Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will miss more time this season after injuring his thumb in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s the second extended time the former All-Pro running back will miss this season. He was on the PUP list for the first four games with an ankle injury, and he was holding out for a new contract.
Indianapolis is already without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is out for the rest of the NFL season after shoulder surgery. The Colts entered Week 13 on a three-game winning streak and in the final AFC Wild Card spot.
When Will Jonathan Taylor Return?
Taylor was injured last week against the Buccaneers, but he played the entire game. The news of the injury came out this week that he would need surgery to repair his thumb.
Taylor is expected to miss multiple games, but the exact number is not known at this point. Colts owner Jim Irsay said earlier in the week that the running back will miss two or three weeks.
On Sunday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Taylor had a UCL tear in his thumb, and surgery included adding an internal brace. Rapoport said the expected recovery time for Taylor is three to five weeks.
How Has Taylor Played?
Taylor only had 14 carries and 37 rush yards in his first two games after missing the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season. His production started to pick up in his third game when he had 18 rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Taylor also caught three passes for 45 yards in the Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
MORE: Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart
Including his game against the Browns, Taylor has rushed for 75.4 yards per game and another 15 receiving yards on average, with five total touchdowns in the last five games. Last week, Taylor had 15 carries for 91 yards, but he suffered a thumb injury that will keep him out for multiple weeks.
What’s Next for the Colts?
Running back Zack Moss, who started four games earlier in the season, will replace Taylor. After missing Week 1 with an injury, he had 466 rushing yards, 110 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns in the first five games.
Taylor returned to the starting lineup in the next game, and Moss’ touches decreased. Moss had 206 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, and one touchdown in the next five games.
The Colts play the next two games on the road against the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. Taylor should return sometime in the final four games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Houston Texans.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!