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Go To: FlashUpdate / August Update Main Page
| Indianapolis Colts | ||||||
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Go To: Off-season Team Review
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| Most Recent News Updates: | ||||||
| IND -- Report: Jackson Likely RB1 To Open The Season; Moss Getting Closer (9/02/10:01 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Moss Progressing; RB Could Be Ready For Week 1 (8/31/19:41 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Ballard: Relationship With Taylor Repairable (8/31/00:06 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- TE Woods To Open Season On IR (8/30/17:25 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Currently Have Only Three Wide Receivers On Active Roster (8/30/15:40 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Report: Colts Asked Dolphins For Waddle And More For Taylor (8/30/12:55 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Who's Next Man Up With Taylor On PU (8/30/00:13 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- No Deal: Jonathan Taylor Staying In Indy On PUP; Will Miss Four Games (8/29/15:02 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Jonathan Taylor Watch Continues As Deadline Looms (8/29/14:39 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson Eager To Win A Super Bowl; Points Out He'll Need Help (8/28/20:45 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts To Release WR Perriman (8/28/10:25 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor Trade Talks Ongoing With Tuesday Deadline Looming (8/28/09:30 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Release RB Drake (8/27/09:57 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Steichen: Richardson Did A Solid Job, But There's Work To Do (8/25/20:40 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson Gets Plenty Of Reps In Win Over Eagles (8/25/00:16 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Report: Dolphins One Of Two Teams To Make An Offer On Taylor (8/24/19:19 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- More On The Colts Giving Taylor A Deadline (8/23/21:12 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Give Taylor Until Next Tuesday To Find A Suitable Trade (8/23/15:28 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson Will Start Exhibition Opener (8/22/18:47 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Steichen Refers Taylor Questions To GM Ballard (8/22/16:12 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- More On Taylor; What Will The Colts Be Looking For In Return? (8/21/21:12 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Give Taylor Permission To Seek Trade (8/21/17:18 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor Will Be Present When Colts Travel To Philly Next Week (8/20/15:13 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- More On Irsay's Comments On Taylor (8/20/14:10 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Minshew Efficient As Richardson Sits; Irsay Addresses Taylor (8/20/00:01 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Sign WR James Washington (8/18/14:55 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- WR Dulin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury (8/17/10:30 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Steichen Offers Up More On Richardson (8/17/00:02 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor Leaves Camp Again, This Time Excused For Personal Reasons (8/16/17:08 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Being Patient With Jonathan Taylor (8/16/09:18 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson Shocked To Be Named Starter; Colts Believe He's Progressing (8/16/00:02 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Make It Official: Richardson Will Be Week 1 Starter (8/15/09:07 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Bad INT Notwithstanding, Richardson's Debut Could Have Been Worse (8/15/00:09 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor Returns To Camp, But Not Working Yet (8/14/16:07 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor To Return To Camp (8/13/18:54 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson to Start Preseason Opener (8/10/10:18 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Sign RB Huntley, TE Seals-Jones (8/10/06:45 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts Sign RB Huntley, TE Seals-Jones (8/09/17:09 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Hunt Leaves Indy Without A Contract (8/09/16:39 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Colts List Richardson Or Minshew As Their QB1 (8/09/08:54 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Report: Colts Offered Hunt More Than Saints; RB Heading To Indy For Visit (8/08/15:36 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Hunt Heading To Indy To Visit Colts (8/08/15:08 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- More Details: Taylor Will Be Away Rehabbing Several Days; No Resolution Imminent (8/08/13:25 | ||||||
| IND -- Taylor Has An Excused Absence To Get Treatment On Ankle (8/08/10:15 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Richardson Continues To Impress Early In Camp (8/08/01:04 CT) | ||||||
| IND -- Initial Issues And Injuries Of Note (8/08/00:00 CT) | ||||||
Current News Updates
9/02 According to KPRC 2 Houston insider Aaron Wilson, sources tell him with Jonathan Taylor out first four games, Deon Jackson is slated to start first game against Jaguars. And Zack Moss, making speedy recovery from wrist surgery, is expected back by second or third week. Rookie Evan Hull is available to work behind Jackson to open the season, but a three-man committee is possible once Moss returns.8/31 RB Zack Moss (broken arm) is progressing in the right direction, according to Shane Steichen, who added that he hopes he will be ready for Week 1. 8/31 Following up on the ongoing story. ... Jonathan Taylor remains a member of the Colts, but the question of whether he’ll actually be playing with them at any point in the future remains an open one with the start of the season just over a week away. There were trade talks with the Dolphins and Packers involving Taylor that did not result in a deal and General Manager Chris Ballard declined to say at a Wednesday press conference how close they came to making a deal. Ballard also declined to say if they would continue to engage in trade talks beyond the self-imposed deadline passed on Tuesday. Taylor remained on the PUP list through the cut to 53 players, which means he won’t play in at least the the first four games of the season. It is a situation that Ballard said “sucks for the Colts, it sucks for our fans and it sucks for Jonathan,” but it isn’t one that he believes has reached a point of no return. Ballard said that Taylor is a Colt “right now” and that “relationships are repairable.” A long-term deal that the Colts have been resistant to discussing would be the likeliest path to rebuilding bridges with the running back, but Ballard did not indicate the team has changed their view. ... Given all of that, it seems like the status quo is going to be in place in Indianapolis for a while. 8/30 The Colts have placed TE Jelani Woods on IR with a hamstring injury. He's out for the first four games of the regular season. 8/30 With rosters getting trimmed to 53 players on Tuesday, some teams have oddities within certain position groups as things still fluctuate in the lead up to Week 1. The Colts are one such club, as they’re now down to just three receivers on their active roster. After claiming three players off waivers, Indianapolis waived defensive tackle McTelvin Agim and offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell. The franchise also released receiver Isaiah McKenzie as the final corresponding move. That leaves the Colts with Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and rookie Josh Downs at receiver on the 53. Indianapolis did announce its practice squad and the club does have D.J. Montgomery, Amari Rodgers, Mike Strachan, and Juan Winfree at receiver for that group. But it stands to reason that the Colts will have some more changes at receiver over the coming week to bring better balance to their roster. 8/30 When the Colts finally decided to let running back Jonathan Taylor attempt to arrange a trade, it was reported that the Colts wanted a first-round pick. They wanted something better than that. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (via Profootballtalk.com) that the Colts asked for receiver Jaylen Waddle “and more.” As PFT's Mike Florio suggests, "That’s the kind of request that makes it impossible to make a deal like this happen in a compressed time frame, only days before the start of the regular season. ..." Waddle arrived via the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, and he has performed very well so far. The demand raises the question as to whether the Colts were serious about trying to trade Taylor. Regardless, the effort likely will continue, either later this year or in the offseason, if/when the Colts apply the franchise tag. For now, Taylor will miss at least the first four games, while on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. 8/30 The Colts did not trade Jonathan Taylor on Tuesday after not finding what they felt was a fair-value offer for their All-Pro running back. With no trade materializing Tuesday, Taylor remains on the physically unable to perform list, making him ineligible to play in at least the first four games of the season. The Colts' next-best opportunity to deal Taylor could be before the NFL's Oct. 31 trade deadline. If there's no deal by then, the Colts could use the franchise tag on Taylor and try to trade him again next offseason. So where does that leave us? The Colts' running-back unit in Taylor's absence consists of veterans Zack Moss and Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull. Moss, who is still recovering from a broken arm sustained in training camp, has never rushed for more than 481 yards in a single season. Jackson's career high, set last season, is 236 rushing yards. They recently had Kareem Hunt in for a visit. We'll see if more moves are forthcoming. 8/29 No deal: Indianapolis did not find what it felt was a fair-value offer for Jonathan Taylor and it is not trading its All-Pro running back today, league sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. NFL Netork's Ian Rapoport is reporting the same. With no trade materializing, the are placing Taylor on the Reserve/PUP list, meaning he’ll be sidelined for at least the first four games. Taylor’s trade request stands. And now he’ll play no sooner than Week 5. The official NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31. 8/29 A note on Jonathan Taylor: As ESPN's Field Yates points out, if the Colts do not remove him from the PUP list by 4 pm ET today, Taylor is out for the first four games of the season, even if traded after today. Indy has a deadline of today for a deal, but 4 pm is also of note for Taylor's early season status if he stays with the Colts. Also worth noting, as ESPN.com's Stephen Holder advised his X followers, the reality is that today’s trade deadline on Taylor is more a headline for the Colts than everyone else. They’re the ones who have to make a decision on his roster status. The real trade deadline is Oct. 31. ... We're watching closely. 8/28 The Colts have started seven quarterbacks since 2019 when Andrew Luck unexpectedly retired before the start of the season. Most were bridge quarterbacks. None was a young prospect, highly drafted by the Colts. As Profootballtalk.com notes, Anthony Richardson is. ... Richardson is the third quarterback the Colts have drafted in the top five since 1998, following Peyton Manning (No. 1 overall in 1998) and Luck (No. 1 overall in 2012). The Colts already have named Richardson the starter, and he will become the seventh rookie to start the season opener in team history. No Indianapolis rookie quarterback has won an opener since George Shaw in 1955. “I know they invested a lot in me," Richardson said Monday, via Mike Chappell of Fox59, "but I’m not the only person on this team. They invested a lot into the other players. They invested a lot into this staff. I know they’re going to ride with me, and I’m going to ride with them. I don’t really see it as I’m the main guy because, without the other pieces on the team, it’s not going to work. ..." Manning went 3-13 in his first season, 13-3 in his second season and won a Super Bowl in his eighth season. Luck went 11-5 his first season and reached the AFC Championship Game in 2014 but got no further. Richardson made only 13 starts in college, so he is inexperienced, and the Colts have missed the playoffs six of the past eight seasons. Thus, this season could be difficult, though Richardson knows what everyone in Indianapolis is hoping and expecting. "Everybody wants me to come here and win a Super Bowl my first year," Richardson said. "I wish I could, and I hope I can. But sometimes, you’ve got to understand it’s not all about me. [I’m] making sure everybody on this team is involved and everybody is doing their job, because I’m not the only one here." 8/28 Indianapolis is releasing receiver Breshad Perriman, according to multiple reports. Perriman signed with the Colts in June. He caught four passes for 34 yards during the preseason. A Baltimore first-round pick back in 2015, Perriman has appeared in 80 games with 25 starts for the Ravens, Browns, Buccaneers, and Jets. Last season he caught nine passes for 110 yards with a touchdown in 11 contests for Tampa Bay. All teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. ... We'll be posting complete moves as they're reported through Tuesday's deadline on our NFL Roster Cuts page. 8/28 According to ESPN.com's Stephen Holder, talks continue on the Jonathan Taylor trade front and, as expected, this will go down to the wire. The Colts have given Taylor a Tuesday deadline to find a trade partner. One tidbit: Holder believes there to be a second team involved beyond the Dolphins, which would certainly change the dynamics. 8/27 The Colts could trade Jonathan Taylor in the next few days and Kenyan Drake won’t be part of the plans to replace him in the backfield if they do pull the trigger on a deal. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Colts have released Drake. The Colts and the league’s other 31 teams have until Tuesday afternoon to pare their rosters down to 53 players. Drake signed with the Colts in early August as they dealt with the absences of Taylor and Zack Moss. He ran 13 times for 36 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards in the team’s three preseason games. Taylor, Moss, Deon Jackson, fifth-round pick Evan Hull, Jake Funk, and Jason Huntley are the remaining running backs on the Indianapolis roster. 8/25 Heading into the draft, Anthony Richardson was seen as a prospect with immense potential and a need for refinement before he’d be able to thrive at the professional level. Richardson’s final preseason outing did little to change that picture. As previouslyh noted, he played the entire first half against the Eagles and led three scoring drives while going 6-of-17 through the air. The six completions generated 78 yards and Richardson also ran five times for 38 yards as he showed both inaccuracy and an ability to make plays as both a passer and a runner over the course of the first half. After the game, HC Shane Steichen said Richardson’s “ability to create outside the pocket is definitely going to help us” while noting that there’s a lot to work on in the weeks to come. “Shoot, I thought he did a solid job,” Steichen said at his press conference. “We scored three out of the first four drives, which is good. The two-minute drive wasn’t what we wanted, but we’ll go back, look at the tape. I thought he did some really good things and some things we’ve got to clean up as well.” The regular season will bring a different level of preparation for opposing teams and Richardson said he is “excited to see the way we game plan” on a weekly basis. Plenty of others will be watching to see how the Colts make use of Richardson’s skills while working to develop him into a quarterback who can lead the team for years to come. 8/25 As Profootballtalk.com suggested, Anthony Richardson showed some moxie Thursday night in a win over the Eagles. The Colts rookie quarterback played the entire first half and led the team on touchdown drives of 52 and 75 yards and a field goal drive of 39 yards against Philadelphia’s backups. Deon Jackson scored on a 3-yard run; Evan Hull plunged in from the 1; and Lucas Havriski kicked a 41-yard field goal to give the Colts a 17-13 halftime lead. After Jackson’s touchdown, Richardson mocked Eagles fans with the team’s “Fly, Eagles, Fly” celebration in the end zone. He went 6-of-17 for 78 yards and ran for 38 yards on five carries in the first half against the Eagles. Richardson was not sacked and took only two quarterback hits. The Colts gained 149 yards on 33 plays in the first half. The No. 4 overall pick, named the Week 1 starter, played 29 snaps in the first preseason game but did not play in the second after joint practices with the Bears last week. He started only 13 games as a one-year starter at the University of Florida, so he needed the 33 reps he got Thursday night. Richardson now is 13-of-29 for 145 yards and an interception in the preseason, adding 45 rushing yards on seven carries. ... Meanwhile, NFL.com notes that Jonathan Taylor's absence remains in issue. With Taylor out, Jackson, presumably the interim RB1, had four carries for 8 yards, while the rookie Hull had 25 yards on a half-dozen totes. The Colts won't be better without Taylor, that much is apparent. But for a team rebuilding and with its QB of the future under center, losing Taylor could be a departure that clouds the Colts forecast for seasons to come. 8/24 Following up on the ongoing story. ... When the Colts first gave running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, the message seemed to be that the Colts wanted to give Taylor a chance to realize that no one else would give him the contract he wants. So far, that seems to be the case. On Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reported that six teams have called the Colts about Taylor, and that two have made offers. According to Destin Adams, who covers the Colts for AtoZSports.com, the Dolphins are one of two teams who have made a trade offer for Jonathan Taylor. "At this time, they definitely feel the most motivated to get a deal done. ..." We'll continue to watch for more. 8/22 Following up on the previous item. ... The Colts have given Jonathan Taylor until Tuesday to find a suitable trade after authorizing the star running back earlier this week to engage with other teams in search of a trade partner. Six teams have inquired about Taylor's availability, and two have engaged the Colts with offers, a source told ESPN.com's Stephen Holder on Wednesday. The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear whether a team is willing to meet the Colts' trade demands, which have been described by sources as being a first-round pick or a package of picks worth similar value. Holder went on to note that Tuesday is a significant day in the NFL, as teams are required to trim their rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 players. It's also the day the Colts must decide on Taylor's status going forward. He is currently on the active/physically unable to perform list and must be activated or placed on reserve-PUP by Tuesday. Players on reserve-PUP must sit out for at least the first four weeks of the regular season. ... Meanwhile, Taylor has twice departed training camp in the past two weeks, first to seek treatment at an off-site medical facility for his ankle injury and last week to attend to an unspecified personal matter. When Taylor returned this week, a source told Holder, he was told he needed to accompany the team to Philadelphia, where the Colts conducted a joint practice with the Eagles on Tuesday. The teams are scheduled to meet in a preseason game Thursday night. While the Colts have made it known they will hold firm on their price tag in a potential trade, they also face a delicate situation if Taylor remains in Indianapolis. They first declined Taylor's request for an extension in May, a source said, and that position hasn't changed. Taylor still wants out, multiple sources tell Holder, so reintegrating him into the lineup could present challenges. The Colts do not seem willing to budge on an extension. 8/22 The Colts have given Jonathan Taylor until Tuesday to find a suitable trade after authorizing the star RB to find a trade partner, per ESPN.com's Stephen Holder. Six teams have inquired about Taylor's availability and two have made offers, per Holder. 8/22 QB Anthony Richardson will start in Thursday's preseason finale versus the Eagles, HC Shane Steichen announced. 8/22 News broke on Monday that the Colts had granted Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade. Taylor, however, is back with the team in Philadelphia for a joint practice with the Eagles followed by the team’s preseason game. Still on the physically unable to perform list, Taylor watched Tuesday’s practice — which ended with a fight. After the session, HC Shane Steichen tried to get ahead of any Taylor questions by beginning his press conference with a mini-statement about the running back. “I’m aware of obviously the reports of JT," Steichen said, via Mike Chappell of FOX59 Indianapolis. “But my focus right now is on this football team, this joint practice, and getting these guys ready to play for Thursday night. ..." Steichen later reiterated that Taylor is not yet medically cleared. Steichen was also asked if he was hoping to see the situation resolved. “We’re working through these things," Steichen said. “I’ll refrain all those questions to [G.M.] Chris Ballard." As Profootballtalk.com notes, while a report out of Miami indicated the Dolphins are likely to explore a trade for Taylor, it’s difficult to pinpoint other teams that might have interest in the running back. 8/21 Following up on the previous item. ... The Colts have given All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade. Other teams now are weighing whether to make an offer to the Colts and what would be fair value for the running back, who led the NFL in rushing in 2021 and has 3,841 rushing yards in his first NFL seasons. The Colts are asking for a first-round draft pick or multiple draft picks that would be the equivalent of a first-round pick, a source told ESPN's Stephen Holder. As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero notes, the Panthers got four draft picks last October for Christian McCaffrey, including a second-rounder. Pelissero contends the Colts would want more to part with Taylor, and that’s just one reason it’s tough to find a trade partner. Taylor has been seeking a contract extension since before training camp. When the Colts declined to engage Taylor on a new deal, he requested a trade as his relationship with the team began to sour. Colts owner Jim Irsay, however, publicly denied Taylor's trade request. “We’re not trading Jonathan. ... End of discussion,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said on July 29. “Not now and not in October!” So what's changed? Maybe nothing. Maybe a lot. ... As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio suggests, any trade will have two clear prongs: (1) what the Colts wants in trade; and (2) what Taylor wants in a contract. The goal could be to let Taylor realize that, even if there’s a team that will placate the Colts, there might be no one to satisfy Taylor’s financial expectations. That could result in Taylor realizing that his best play will be to play for $4.3 million this year, have a big season, and try to work something out next March, with the Colts or someone else. There is at least one team that has a potential interest in trading for Taylor. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are expected to explore a deal for Taylor. Jackson notes that he’s not sure what the Dolphins would offer the Colts for Taylor. But Miami does like that Taylor is young and in his prime. We'll continue to follow up as developments warrant. 8/21 According to multiple reports, the Colts have given star RB Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, and conversations to find potential landing spots are ongoing. Several GMs and talent evaluators were informed earlier today that Taylor is available. ... As Profootballtalk.com suggests, just because Taylor and his representation are able to look for a trade partner who would give him a new deal doesn’t mean he’s going to find one. The Chargers similarly gave Austin Ekeler permission to seek a trade earlier in the offseason but nothing materialized on the market. Ekeler ended up signing a deal with increased incentives with Los Angeles for 2023. That said, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports there is interest in Taylor on the market, but “it won’t be cheap. ...” HC Shane Steichen said on Sunday that he was expecting Taylor to be back with the team this week as the Colts travel to Philadelphia to practice with the Eagles. But Taylor remains on the physically unable to perform list. 8/20 Following up on the ongoing story. ... RB Jonathan Taylor will travel with the Colts to Philadelphia ahead of their preseason finale against the Eagles, per head coach Shane Steichen. Taylor had previously taken an excused leave of absence and remains on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing his surgically repaired ankle. 8/20 On Saturday night, Colts owner Jim Irsay addressed the lingering contract kerfuffle with running back Jonathan Taylor. As Profootballtalk.com suggests, the good news is Irsay likely didn’t make things worse by speaking on the subject. “We’re excited to have Jonathan Taylor back,” Irsay said on the broadcast of the Bears-Colts preseason game. “I know these things are always difficult, I respect any time people are, they’re trying to fight for their position for their families and all those things. And, you know, I’ve been around it so long that I just think the biggest thing that I preach is timing is everything. We’re really looking forward to him to playing his way into being the Jonathan Taylor he was. And we’re really excited to have him and we want to do everything we can to support him and embrace him as a Colt, because he’s a great young man. I can’t say enough about him and his family. Look[,] you have these problems, you know how it is. You never go in with no problems at all. These days you hope you have less contractual problems because the way the CBA is and they work a lot of things through. But you have them and that’s what I know [GM] Chris Ballard is going to work hard on and try to get the waters as calm as they can and go forward. ...” Remember: Taylor didn’t hold out. According to PFT's Mike Florio, he should have. Florio went on to explain the Colts have been suspicious that he’s holding in. The goal has been to let things settle down, so that Taylor can realize his best play is to play. To have a great season, and to hope for the best in 2024. The problem is that the CBA lets the Colts use the franchise tag, in 2024 and then in 2025. That keeps Taylor from getting market value, whatever his market value might be, until he’s past the point of commanding big money. Whatever the case, this situation continues to be a mess. And that's reflected in Taylor now being available in the third round of fantasy drafts. Selecting him might be a risk, but as it becomes less costly it becomes more interesting. 8/20 As ESPN.com's Stephen Holder reported, the Colts, like the Bears, opted to rest the overwhelming majority of their starters, including rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. The move came after two days of intense joint practices between the teams earlier in the week. That sets up an interesting decision heading into the third and final week of the preseason, when the Colts travel to Philadelphia for a single joint practice and preseason game against the Eagles. As for the Colts who did play, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew had another efficient performance, completing 13 of 15 pass attempts for 107 yards and a touchdown pass -- a 4-yard toss to receiver Juwann Winfree. Minshew has been relegated to the No. 2 quarterback after Richardson on Monday was named the starter by coach Shane Steichen. ... Meanwhile, NFL.com's Grant Gordon notes the Colts' RB stable is glaring question as season approaches. With Jonathan Taylor dealing with ankle and monetary hindrances on top of a recent personal situation, and backup Zack Moss nursing a broken arm, Indianapolis could potentially lean on third-year pro Deon Jackson and rookie fifth-rounder Evan Hull. Both ran hard, but neither stood out as suitable stopgaps for whenever Indy's backfield ills are remedied. Hull totaled 14 yards with Jackson tallying 23 on five touches apiece with both looking like third-down backs more so than leads. Colts owner Jim Irsay said on the local broadcast he was "excited" about getting Taylor back and confident general manager Chris Ballard would "get the waters as calm as they can." Saturday showed rough waters are ahead without Taylor. 8/18 The Colts announced they have signed WR James Washington, placed DE Genard Avery on IR and waived-injured WR Malik Turner. Remember, WR Ashton Dulin also suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice this week. 8/17 WR Ashton Dulin suffered a season-ending torn ACL during last night’s practice, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. 8/17 Anthony Richardson has earned the starting job, and head coach Shane Steichen says the decision to give Richardson the ball in Week 1 comes for the same reasons as the decision to pick him with the fourth overall draft. Steichen says watching the unique blend of running ability and arm strength that Richardson possesses makes it obvious how special the rookie quarterback is. “You see the upside on film, it just jumps off the tape,” Steichen said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Holy smokes, there aren’t many guys that can do the things that he’s doing, so let’s roll,” Steichen said. Steichen said everything the Colts have learned about Richardson since drafting him has matched what they were hoping to find. “Starting in OTAS, getting him in here after the draft, his work habits, what he’s doing, the playmaking ability he brings,” Steichen said. “Great, high-character guy. The way he treats people, he’s a charismatic guy, he cares about people, great teammate, he wants to do everything right. ...” Richardson doesn’t have much experience after starting only one season in college, but he’s done enough that Steichen has no doubts he’s found his franchise quarterback. 8/16 Jonathan Taylor returned to Colts training camp on Monday after leaving the team in order to rehab his ankle on his own, but Taylor left again on Wednesday. The team issued a statement saying that Taylor was not leaving because of his surgically-repaired ankle and that his absence will not lead to any fines being issued by the team. “Taylor returned to Indianapolis to continue his rehab, however he had a personal matter arise,” the team’s statement said. “He is not currently with the team and his absence is excused. ...” As Profootballtalk.com notes, all of this has played out against the backdrop the trade request Taylor made because of the lack of progress toward a new contract as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal. The Colts have said they will not trade Taylor, who is on the physically unable to perform list because of his ankle and there’s no timeline for when he might be cleared to return to action. 8/16 Jonathan Taylor has returned to training camp, but he still isn’t practicing. Taylor remains on the active/physically unable to perform list while rehabbing from offseason ankle surgery. “Look, I think the world of Jonathan,” General Manager Chris Ballard said on SiriusXM NFL Radio, via Mike Chappell of Fox59. “He’s been a great Colt, a great player for the Colts. Unfortunately, last year he got hurt early in the season, was dinged up all year, fought through it until he finally got to the point where he had to have this surgery. ..." Taylor rehabbed out of state last week as he seeks to avoid the recurring ankle issues he had last season when he missed six games. He’s now back rehabbing with team personnel. Head coach Steve Steichen offered no timeline on Taylor’s return to practice. “He’s rehabbing,” Steichen said Tuesday. “Going forward, he’s rehabbing and I’m not going to get into specifics. Like I said last week, once he’s out here, he’ll be out here. ..." Taylor remains disgruntled with his contract. The 2020 second-round selection is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is looking for an extension the Colts aren’t willing to consider until after the season. He made a trade request late last month and his stance hasn’t changed: Taylor still wants to play elsewhere. Owner Jim Irsay publicly has said the Colts won’t trade Taylor. Ballard did not indicate Taylor is “holding-in,” instead insisting Taylor will return to practice when healthy. Taylor underwent surgery on his ankle Jan. 25. 8/16 As ESPN.com's Stephen Holder reported, it took just one quarter of preseason action for Anthony Richardson to solidify himself as the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback. As previously noted, Richardson, this year's fourth overall draft pick, will be the Colts' starter this season, coach Shane Steichen announced Tuesday. The news comes days after Richardson's preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Richardson never saw it coming. "Honestly, I was shocked," he said. Richardson had been in a competition with veteran Gardner Minshew, but now that a decision on a starter has been reached, the Colts can dig into their preparation and tailor their offense to their new franchise quarterback. "Anthony's just been progressing," Steichen said. "The growth he's shown, then, obviously, going into Buffalo, playing against a lot of their starters, he showed great signs of improvement. I like the things he did, and it's an opportunity now for him to get a lot more with the [starters] moving forward, and we go from there." Richardson was 7-of-12 for 67 yards in one quarter of action against Buffalo. Of particular note, the Colts said, was the way he composed himself after throwing a costly interception on his first drive, a turnover that led to a Bills touchdown on the ensuing possession. Richardson rebounded to lead two more drives that both reached Buffalo territory, including a 77-yard drive on his final possession that ended with a missed field goal. It was just his 14th start since his final season at Eastside High School in Gainesville, Florida, in 2019. Steichen informed Richardson and Minshew of his decision in a meeting Monday evening, the coach said. Then, according to Richardson, he and Steichen embarked on a two-hour conversation about what comes next. Of the decision, Richardson said, "Still got to work for it despite being granted the opportunity. Still got to work for it because nothing's handed to you. Got to earn everything." As for Minshew, he expressed disappointment while also acknowledging what everyone already knows. "This is his franchise," he said of Richardson. "That's the reason they picked him where he is. And he's going to be really special." 8/15 Head coach Shane Steichen has announded that Anthony Richardson will be the Colts' Week 1 starter at quarterback. 8/15 As NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal acknowledged, Anthony Richardson's first preseason box score wasn't great (7 of 12 for 67 yards with an interception; two carries for 7 yards) against the Bills starters, but he bounced back well after the ugly early pick. Notably, regarding that INT, Indianapolis Colts WR Isaiah McKenzie apologized for making a poor read on a blitz adjustment, leaving Richardson in a bad spot. That said, the rookie still should have eaten the ball or thrown it away. Rosenthal added wideout Alec Pierce also dropped an absolute dime from Richardson that should have gone for 30 yards. On a more positive note, Richardson trucked Bills cornerback Taron Johnson on one run and showed his special movement skills on another scamper that was called back. His release was quick, though there were a few off-target throws. Richardson handed off on a lot of zone-read plays. It was basically as you'd expect: big highs and lows, nothing that would make you think the No. 4 overall pick won't be starting Week 1. 8/14 Following up on the ongoing story. ... Jonathan Taylor, who had been away from the team to get additional rehab on his ankle, returned to training camp on Monday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, per a source. The news confirms head coach Shane Steichen's comments on Sunday that Taylor would be back with the team this week. Despite the return to the facility, nothing has changed with Taylor's status, per Rapoport. The RB remains on the Colts' PUP list after offseason ankle surgery, and his trade request still stands after contract talks went nowhere.It remains unclear when Taylor might begin practicing, as the RB has contended he won't participate until he's 100 percent. Taylor is back in the building. Nothing else has changed in Indy regarding the RB. 8/13 According to Adam Schefter, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is expected to return to training camp this week. Taylor has been holding out over his contract situation. 8/10 According to Ian Rapoport, Colts coach Shane Steichen announced that rookie QB Anthony Richardson will start their preseason game Saturday vs the Bills. 8/10 According to Ian Rapoport, The Colts have signed RB Jason Huntley. They also signed FA TE Ricky Seals-Jones. 8/09 After Kareem Hunt left Indy without a contract, the Colts signed another running back: It's Jason Huntley, who was cut last week by Pittsburgh. They also signed veteran TE Ricky Seals-Jones. 8/09 Kareem Hunt’s free agency tour will continue. According to multiple reports, Hunt is departing Indianapolis without striking a deal with the Colts. While Indianapolis made Hunt an offer, the two sides could not come to terms. Hunt still has interest from other teams on the market. As Profootballtalk.com notes, one of those teams is the Saints, as Hunt had a visit with New Orleans on Tuesday. With Marlon Mack tearing his Achilles this week, the Cardinals could also emerge as a team with some interest in Hunt’s services. Hunt, 28, rushed for 468 yards with three touchdowns for the Browns last year. He also caught 35 passes for 210 yards with a TD. He was on the field for 42 percent of Cleveland’s snaps. 8/09 The Colts aren’t ready to name a starting quarterback, or even say who’s ahead in the competition. The first depth chart out of Indianapolis this preseason lists “Gardner Minshew or Anthony Richardson” as the No. 1 quarterback. Sam Ehlinger is listed as third string. ... As Profootballtalk.com explained, the use of the word “or” on depth charts is a common way for teams to indicate that they’re not ready to name a winner of a training camp competition, and it seems to be getting more common in quarterback competitions this offseason. The Buccaneers also did it with Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask in their starting quarterback competition, and the 49ers did it with Sam Darnold or Trey Lance in their backup quarterback competition. ... Richardson is an extraordinary talent, which is why the Colts took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. But he only started one season in college, and may not be ready to start in the NFL in Week 1. Minshew has started 24 games during his NFL career and may be more ready to start the opener. But it will be a few weeks before the Colts let the rest of us know who’s really first on the depth chart. 8/08 Following up on the ongoing story. ... According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, who reported earlier today that Kareem Hunt was expected to sign with the Saints today, Hunt was called by Indy before he even stepped foot on the field to work out for the Saints and was offered more money. He was advised to leave and head to Indy with the Colts for a visit. ... Stay tuned. 8/08 Free-agent RB Kareem Hunt had what was called “a great visit with the Saints” and is now on his way to Indianapolis to meet with the Colts on Wednesday, per multipe reports. This news comes with Jonathan Taylor away from the team to presumably rehab his ongoing ankle issue -- but with the specter of his displeasure with the team hanging over the entire situation and with Zack Moss (broken arm) also missing time. ... We'll watch for more. 8/08 Following up on the previous item. ... Jonathan Taylor has left Colts training camp to continue rehabbing his ankle injury off-site, a source told ESPN.com's Stephen Holder on Tuesday. Taylor, who has been in a standoff with the Colts over his lack of a contract extension, was not in attendance at Tuesday's practice even though injured players are customarily expected to be on the field for each workout. Coach Shane Steichen said Taylor was absent as "part of his rehab process. If you don't see him out here, it's part of his rehab." When asked whether Taylor was rehabbing on- or off-site, Steichen declined to comment. The source told Holder that the Colts were previously made aware of Taylor's plans to continue his rehab away from the team and that his absence is expected to last several days. Taylor has been on the physically unable to perform list since reporting to training camp on July 27. The team attributed the decision to his offseason ankle surgery, but a source later added that Taylor also complained of back and hamstring tightness. Taylor has denied any issue with his back. The Colts open their preseason schedule against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, but there's still no indication of a resolution between Taylor and the team. Taylor has asked for a trade, which owner Jim Irsay vehemently rejected. Taylor, multiple sources tell Holder, continues to hold out hope that the team will reconsider his request. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract and is scheduled to hit free agency next spring. Meanwhile, the Colts were down two additional running backs Tuesday, as Zack Moss, who suffered a broken arm last week, and Deon Jackson, who was sidelined by an unspecified injury, also missed practice. 8/08 There was some concern in Indy this morning when Jonathan Taylor, who hasn't been practicing in training camp, wasn't seen on the field watching teammates as has been the norm so far. According Indianapolis Star staffer Nate Atkins, Taylor wasn’t on the field today because he’s getting treatment for his ankle. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport characterized it as an "excused absence." It's the same ankle injury from last season that was surgically cleaned up this offseason and Rapoport suggests Taylor could be away for more than today. Head coach Shane Steichen said he hopes to see Taylor get back to work before training camp ends. Taylor, in addition to being on the PUP list, is unhappy with his contract situation (and the team's unwillingness to address it) and has requested a trade. 8/08 Entering the NFL, Anthony Richards brought sky-high skills but lacked game reps and development in college. Nonetheless, the rookie QB is coming on strong. ... According to everyone on the ground this past weekend, Richardson shined, especially when getting the starting reps on Sunday (8/6). "I thought he had a heck of a day (Sunday)," coach Shane Steichen said. "He was really solid, made some big-time throws. Obviously, the two-minute drive, threw a nice touchdown right there in the end zone and then the two-point play that he ran in. It was pretty good to see. ..." Reporters have pervasively noted that Richardson continues to progress positively throughout camp, including a play-action deep shot in 11-on-11 to wideout Alec Pierce that turned heads Sunday. "Shoot, he made a heck of a throw," Steichen said. "It was one-on-one backside, and we had another combination over there, and he snapped back and threw that one-on-one. It was a great throw and a great catch." Steichen has yet to name a starter for the Colts' first preseason game against Buffalo on Saturday, but it's clear that Richardson is making a push. Even if the Colts start the first preseason game with Gardner Minshew under center, NFL.com's Kevin Patra suggests Richardson should get plenty of run early in the preseason. If the battle is remotely close, history tells us the No. 4 overall pick will have the edge to be the Week 1 starter. 8/08 While the ongoing drama surrounding Jonathan Taylor's unhappiness with the club dominates the headlines, Anthony Richardson appears to be quietly going about the business of nailing down the starting quarterback job early in camp. The most athletic QB prospect since, well, ever, Richardson brings everything but experience (and accuracy) to Indy as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his lone season as the starter at Florida, he completed only 53.8 percent of his passes but posted 400-yard games against Tennessee and Vanderbilt and rushed for 654 yards and nine scores. The hope in Colts country is that new coach Shane Steichen can tap into his potential as he did with Jalen Hurts as the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia and build an offense uniquely geared to his two-way talents. Richardson will compete in camp with Gardner Minshew, another new arrival to an offense that finished 27th in yards and 30th in points in the abbreviated Matt Ryan "era" (12 starts). In addition to the coaching change, the Colts drafted North Carolina WR Josh Downs (third round) and added former Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie. "He's a gamer," Downs said of Richardson. "He's going to put in the work to be great. ..." Richardson has been dominating the starting reps early in camp and his progress is something we'll be watching closely. ... Meanwhile, Taylor's situation has been quiet since the initial flare up on 7/29, when we learned the third-year back had requested a trade due to his unhappiness over the team's failure to offer him a contract extension. That said, he is under contract and his options are limited if the Colts won't grant his request (and they say he won't). Tayler opened camp on PUP coming off an ankle cleanup. There have been reports that his back has been bothering him, but Taylor denied that's an issue.
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 Team Review
Fantasy Grade: B-
Its a new day in Indianapolis. There's a new head coach in Shane Steichen. A new quarterback in Anthony Richardson. And a boatload of enthusiasm and excitement. There's no guarantee that Richardson will be the Colts' Week 1 starter — he has limited starling experience. But if the youngster from Florida does win the job, Richardson's rushing ability could make him a fantasy force in the opinion of Rodger Sherman of the Ringer. "An exceptional athlete with a half-baked passing game can win in the NFL: he said. 'Arid if a quarterback with spectacular athleticism does figure things out as a passer? "My message to the Texans fan base, l'd say get ready. We bringing it, man; Stroud said. 1 don't know what its gonna look like when we first get there. but were gonna work. And I think that's what it's about. Putting in the work, making sure that when our numbers are called that we make the play. that we try to do as best we can to get back to the top like they were a couple years ago. We want to bring wins on wins on wins." What isn't going to help Stroud's chances of success is arguably the weakest wide receiver room in the league. After one disappointing season in Tennessee, Robert Woods signed with the Texans in free agency. Youngster John Metchie has talent but missed his entire rookie season. As a matter of fact, the most fantasy-rel-evant pass-catcher may wind up being tight end Dalton Schultz, who joined the Texans after five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The brightest spot for the Texans last year was running back Demean Pierce, who topped 900 rushing yards as a rookie. Per the team's website, Pierce has bigger and better things in mind for Year 2. "I just want to be a difference on the field when you see me play." Pierce said. "In terms of my development, my maturity on the field, and I just want to be a better ball player than I was last year. I just want to keep improv-ing and keep climbing. "l'in always trying to work. I'm just trying to take it in and be the best I can be because I know the better I am, the better everybody around me is going to be. And vice versa. Just try to have that good infectious energy in the locker room and around the building." However, the Texans backfield is also more crowded this year with the addition of veteran Devin Singletary, They immediately vault to the top of the league. When a quarterback is a frightening runner, defenses need to com-mit to defending quarterback runs. When that quarterback can throw well, defenses are screwed no matter what." Last year, Jonathan Taylor was the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy drafts. Things didn't pan out —Taylor strug-gled with injuries and failed to meet expectations. However, Adam Wilde of Footbellguys believes Steicherr's arrival could unlock a massive rebound from Taylor in 2023. "With Steichen at the helm and Richardson under center, the Colts will get back to their balanced roots," he said. 'This shift will undoubtedly return Taylor's opportunities to at least what he saw in 2021. Given what he was able to do in a league-average offense two seasons ago, the sky's the limit for Taylor if Steichen can laing even a fraction of Philadelphia's offensive success with him to Indianapolis.' Richardson should also benefit from a solid duo of young wide receivers in Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce. Tera Roberts believes that Pittman. like Taylor. Gould be in for a massive jump in production in 2023. 'This year, with the right quarterback, fantasy managers could finally cash in on Pittman's elusive upside,' he said. 'Pittman has had terrible luck with quarterbacks for his entire career as the Colts have cycled through retread quarterbacks. Pittman will be the lead receiver in a Shane Steicten offense that produced two WR1s in 2022. Pittman has the talent to produce as a WR1. He just needs a quar-terback that can manage to stay upright and throw the ball deeper than a few yards beyond the line of scrimmage.' Zech Hicks of Colts Wire said don't sleep on Pierce, either. `With Steichen likely bringing more of a vertical passing attack to the Colts in 2023, Pierce is one of the players with the most to gain going into Year 2," he said. fit with Steichen's offense should be one of the more seamless transitions on the roster." Add it all together, and you have what could be a prolific offense — if the quarterback play is there. | ||||||
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2023 Off-Season News & Views
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