Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has denied reports of a back injury and has requested a trade amid a contract standoff with the team. On Sunday night, Taylor took to Twitter to issue a strong denial of the injury claims, stating that he has never experienced back pain nor reported any such issues. He also questioned the credibility of the sources that have spread these rumors, urging them to find new ones.
The reports suggest that if Taylor were to be placed on the non-football injury list (NFI), the Colts would be within their rights to withhold his pay as per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Taylor, who has not spoken publicly about his contract extension desires since mid-June and has not been available to the media during training camp, broke his silence to address the situation.
Taylor reported to training camp on Tuesday but was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list due to an injury sustained while training away from the team. However, players on this list still receive their pay. The potential move to the NFI list, which would be a significant escalation in the standoff, has led to increased tension between Taylor and the Colts regarding his contract.
The running back is currently entering the final year of his rookie contract, and it is common practice for NFL teams to extend contracts for key players before their final season commences. However, Colts owner Jim Irsay has made it clear that the team does not plan to negotiate a contract extension for Taylor until after the season. Despite rushing for an impressive 3,841 yards and 33 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the team, the Colts have not entered negotiations with the running back.
In response to the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Colts, Taylor recently requested a trade. A meeting between Taylor and Irsay on Saturday night did not result in a resolution, and news of the trade request emerged shortly after comments made by Irsay to reporters. Irsay has since stated that the team will not trade Taylor, neither in the present nor in October.
The situation between Taylor and the Colts remains tense and unresolved, with no clear path forward for either party at this time. While Taylor has categorically denied suffering a back injury, the future of his contract negotiation and playing career with the Colts seems uncertain. Fans and analysts alike continue to speculate on the outcome of this contract standoff, but only time will tell how it will unfold.
In the meantime, Taylor’s trade request and the Colts’ refusal to entertain the idea have further added to the drama surrounding this story. As the NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Taylor and the Colts to see how this contract standoff ultimately plays out.
