Will Jonathan Taylor miss Week 5? The latest from the Colts running back on his injury

INDIANAPOLIS — Colt s Jonathan Taylor likely will not practice on Thursday, but the superstar running back is planning to test the health of his sprained right ankle anyway.

Taylor’s ankle was twisted by Pittsburgh safety DeShon Elliott at the end of Sunday’s 21-carry, 88-yard performance, and the Colts running back wasn’t able to get back into the game.

The Colts held Taylor out of practice on Wednesday, and it sounded like he was headed in that direction again Thursday.

“No, probably not today,” Taylor said. “I’ll have to gauge first, though. I’ll go in there and do some stuff, see where things are.”

Taylor did not rule out playing against Jacksonville on Sunday, setting a 48-hour timetable for the team’s decision, although the team could push that to 72 hours if need be.

The Colts star will be testing his ability to handle the demands of his position. Unlike other running backs, Taylor’s style of play requires him to move in a series of cuts, bobbing and weaving his way through traffic to find an opening.

A sprained ankle can limit a running back’s ability to move side-to-side, even if he’s able to run at something close to full speed in a straight line.

“Being able to move around, being able to get in and out of cuts, being able to explode, burst,” Taylor said. “Especially at my position, defensive back, those are all heavy cutting positions. That’s the biggest thing.”

The good news about Taylor’s injury is that it is not as serious as the one he suffered early in the 2022 season. Taylor sat out three of the next five games after suffering that injury, pushed it to get back on the field and played four full games, then aggravated the injury in December, ending his season prematurely and sending him into surgery in January.

Taylor did not fully recover from that injury until four games into the 2023 season, after his contract dispute with the Colts was resolved.

The injury Taylor suffered on Sunday is not the same.

“Of course, with it not being as severe as previous, it’s actually a sign of relief,” Taylor said. “Let’s go through our normal ankle protocol. It’s actually better for me, because it’s not as severe as last time.”

Indianapolis has handled ankle sprains cautiously this season.

Wide receiver Josh Downs sat out six weeks with a high ankle sprain, and the Colts placed defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain against Green Bay.

The Colts might decide to take a cautionary approach to Taylor’s recovery.

“At the start, you always have to have rest, because you have to have time for the injury to calm down,” Taylor said. “But then after that, you’ve got to go to work, strengthening it and making sure it can handle that load.”

If that means playing on Sunday without practicing during the week, Taylor is willing and capable.

Indianapolis has often played veterans without putting them through practice, trusting veterans to absorb the game plan during the week.

“Practice is very vital, practice is important, but at this level, you should be able to execute your job at a high level,” Taylor said. “Being a true professional is understanding your assignment, even if you have little, limited or no reps.”

The Colts want to make sure Taylor is back on the field as soon as he can.

But Indianapolis also wants Taylor back at full strength.

Jonathan Taylor status: Would Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson or a committee replace Jonathan Taylor?

Who is Jonathan Taylor's backup on the Colts depth chart?

Trey Sermon .

Who is the best fantasy football waiver wire pickup?

Sermon is the only other running back to get a carry from the Colts this season, with 24 yards and 1 touchdown on 9 carries, a 2.7-yard per carry average. The good news? He's gotten more than 5 carries in a game in his career four times with 240 yards and 1 touchdowns on 56 carries (4.3-yard average). The bad news? Sermon was a third-round pick and only gotten more than 5 carries in a game four times in his career.

Tyler Goodson (1 catch, 2 yards) is the other running back on the active roster. If Taylor is unable to play, Evan Hull or Trent Pennix could be elevated from the practice squad.

What is Colts RB Jonathan Taylor's injury?

Colts coach Shane Steichen said Taylor is dealing with a sprained ankle. Media outlets have reported that it's a high ankle sprain, which generally has a 4- to 6-week recovery period but can take less or more time to heal.

What are Colts RB Jonathan Taylor's 2024 NFL season stats?

Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 349 yards and 4 touchdowns on 72 carries this season, a 4.8-yard average. He has caught 6 passes for 77 yards, a 12.8-yard average.

How long is Colts RB Jonathan Taylor's contract?

Jonathan Taylor signed a 3-year, $42 million contract with the Colts last season, according to Spotrac.com . It included a $10.248 million signing bonus with $26.5 million guaranteed. Taylor is earning a base salary of $7,804,000 this season with a dead cap hit of $23,152,445 per Sportrac.

Is Colts RB Jonathan Taylor the highest paid NFL running back?

Jonathan Taylor has the third-highest average value among NFL running backs at $14 million per year. Christian McCaffrey ($19 million) and Alvin Kamara ($15 million) are ahead of him.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Jonathan Taylor miss Week 5? The latest from the Colts running back on his injury