MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jonathan Taylor was always more likely to end up on the Indianapolis Colts’ reserve/PUP list than he was on the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster.
Credit Taylor’s agent, Malki Kawa, for creating the illusion of a robust market. But at some point, everyone has to turn over their cards.
Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on Jonathan Taylor
And the Colts always had the strongest hand. They were only going to consider trading him if a team was prepared to blow them away with an offer they couldn’t refuse.
No one gave the Colts a first-round pick for a running back.
So he’ll be on the team for at least the next four weeks. He is on the PUP list for the next month because of a mysterious lingering ankle injury.
Would that injury have suddenly healed if he got dealt to the team of his choice?
It’s certainly a theory that has made the rounds.
But one thing must be made abundantly clear: Mike McDaniel has now said twice on the record that the Dolphins and Colts were not close to making a deal.
And that should carry more heft than those who speak off the record.
Mike McDaniel on the Jonathan Taylor trade chatter pic.twitter.com/if5LLdFtU9
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) August 29, 2023
“I mean, honestly, I spend zero time except when I answer questions about it,” McDaniel said.
“… It’s again structured that way for a reason when things are serious enough, it comes to my plate. But, you know, when you’re very happy with the players that you’re coaching, know that they’re capable of making a ton of plays, and you [have] a lot of guys that you’re going with on a journey, just trying to get them better every day.
“I spend zero time thinking or forecasting and just trigger it ready if Chris comes knocking on my door for whatever reason. But that hasn’t been a part of my life really in the last … since you asked me.”
So that, at least for the time being, is that.
The Dolphins carried six running backs (plus fullback Alec Ingold) on their original 53:
De’Von Achane, Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks, Raheem Mostert, and Jeff Wilson Jr.
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They have more than enough at the position. Taylor was always a luxury.
Could the Colts lower their asking price as the Halloween trade deadline approaches?
We’ll see.