Colts could consider suspension for Jonathan Taylor, according to report
Jonathan Taylor's stand-off with the Colts has the potential to take at least one more twist.
Indianapolis could look into suspending Taylor for conduct detrimental to the team, Fox59 reported Tuesday. The report states that the team believes Taylor is staging a contract "hold-in" and is actually healthy enough to practice.
The Colts placed their All-Pro running back on the Physically Unable to Perform List at Tuesday's 4 p.m. roster deadline. He is not currently a part of the 53-man roster and must miss at least the first four games while on this list. The Colts made the move after electing not to fulfill his trade request Tuesday. The Colts gave him a 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline to find a trade partner, Fox59 reported.
The Colts did not ultimately receive their first-round-pick asking price, nor did they receive a second-round pick in any offer, Fox59 reported. The Dolphins were one of the teams in the mix, according to multiple reports.
RELATED: Jonathan Taylor and the Colts were a perfect marriage. Can they avoid a messy divorce?
Taylor has been on the PUP List since reporting to training camp July 25. The Colts have said it's a result of a an ankle injury from last season. Taylor suffered a high-ankle sprain last year and hurt it two more times before going on Injured Reserve after exiting a game in Week 15.
He underwent a surgery in late January called arthroscopic debridement, which is a clean-up procedure that carries a 2- to 4-week timeline to return to play, a source with knowledge of these procedures told IndyStar. It's the same procedure that linebacker E.J. Speed underwent this spring, and he returned in time to participate in the team's veteran minicamp in June and with no limitations to start training camp.
“I bounced back perfect,” Speed said.
Taylor has yet to participate in any team-related on-field activities since. By the end of his minimum four-game stay on the PUP List, he will be eight months removed from surgery.
Taylor grew frustrated this spring with the Colts' refusal to engage in contract negotiations. He was expecting a market-rate deal entering the final year of his rookie contract, which is the same point in time that the team has extended Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Shaquille Leonard, Kenny Moore II and Nyheim Hines.
With no contract offer by late July, Taylor requested a trade following a meeting with owner Jim Irsay on his luxury bus during a training camp practice. Irsay has said that the team does not plan to make him an offer until he and the team show they can bounce back from a 4-12-1 season.
The running back market has crumbled this spring, with stars such as Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard all receiving the franchise tag. This market made it more difficult for Taylor to find a trade partner that would meet the Colts' demands for compensation as well as his own desires in a new contract.
The Colts can still trade Taylor before the NFL deadline on Oct. 31.
Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts could consider suspension for Jonathan Taylor, per report
