No deal, no playing time: Reaction to Colts leaving Jonathan Taylor on PUP
Jonathan Taylor didn't go anywhere (yet) and won't see the field early this season.
The Indianapolis Colts reportedly left him on the physically unable to perform list at the roster cut deadline, meaning he must miss the first four weeks of the 2023 season. The team had given Taylor permission to find a trade partner, but no deals satisfied the Colts by the 4 p.m. Tuesday roster cut deadline.
If the Colts and Taylor can't figure out a solution in the first month of the season, it's possible a move could be made by the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.
At the cut deadline: Taylor remains with Colts, will miss first 4 games per report
Taylor's rookie contract runs through this season and counts just over $5 million toward the Colts salary cap. He wants an extension and a pay raise commensurate with a player who won the 2021 NFL rushing title.
In April, Taylor said not having a contract extension wouldn't faze him this season. In June, he said he wanted to retire a Colt. But he never took the field in training camp, being placed on the PUP list as Colts owner Jim Irsay and Taylor's agent, Malki Kawa, traded barbs on social media.
Full saga: The wild, winding road of Jonathan Taylor's relationship with the Colts
Here's reaction to this development, or lack thereof:
Just a reminder that Jonathan Taylor's surgery from January, arthroscopic debridement, carries a 2- to 4-week return-to-play timeline, per source.
He'll now miss at least 8 months of football activities.— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) August 29, 2023
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.
With no trade materializing today, Taylor now is expected to remain on the Physically Unable to Perform… pic.twitter.com/TvBXpIJCoc— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2023
What the Colts are supposedly saying: "Nobody wants to meet our asking price for Jonathan Taylor."
What teams are likely saying to the Colts: "You are asking for too much so we'll just wait until you bring your asking price down."— Bob Morris (@BobMorrisSports) August 29, 2023
The #Dolphins tried! How bad of an organization are the #IndianapolisColts? Instead of taking the best offer now #JonathanTaylor is out the 1st four #NFL games of the season on the PUP. His value now drops even further. No wonder the Colts are mired in a complete rebuild! pic.twitter.com/teCMxasZb3
— Lee Sterling (@paramountsports) August 29, 2023
No team led by a GM with half a brain was giving up valuable picks *and* a contract for a running back off a down year and injury. The Eagles didn’t need Jonathan Taylor, and were smart to avoid a mistake. https://t.co/ythUkXrZ3T
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) August 29, 2023
I'm more curious to hear whether Jonathan Taylor found deals he felt were "fair value" from other teams. That will go a long way in determining whether the relationship can be saved. https://t.co/UdR6neEfBN
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) August 29, 2023
Colts front office dodging Jonathan Taylor's request.....!!!! pic.twitter.com/KVDFCcwfXn
— Charles English (@cenglish61) August 29, 2023
NFL teams would rather have control than make the best decision for their organization and that’s why you get Jonathan Taylor situations
it’s all a game to keep making the players as powerless as possible— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) August 29, 2023
Jim Irsay to Jonathan Taylor today🤣🤣🤣 #Colts pic.twitter.com/x3tJvDjAs3
— Jay (@Yuknuts1) August 29, 2023
Jonathan Taylor thoughts:
1. So hard to execute a disgruntled RB trade. Existing team probably wants too much draft capital. The player probably wants too much money... smart teams know allocating big contracts to RB is #bad.
2. #Colts have already worked out free agent RB…— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) August 29, 2023
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts keep Jonathan Taylor on PUP, social media reacts
