Some people may have forgotten about Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who was one of the game’s very best players at his position a couple of years ago.
Injuries have derailed Taylor the last two seasons, as he suffered an ankle injury in the back half of 2022 and had to miss seven games in 2023 as a result.
However, now, Taylor is healthy, and he is sending the NFL a reminder of how good he is when he is right.
“That’s why I work the way I do, because really, when I’m healthy [I produce],” Taylor said, via Stephen Holder of ESPN . “My rookie year, healthy. And I had a really good year. Second year, healthy. Had a really good year. I know what I can do when I’m healthy.”
That’s for sure.
Taylor rattled off 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging five yards per carry during his rookie campaign, and the following season, he led the NFL in both rushing yards (1,811) and rushing touchdowns (18) while logging a robust 5.5 yards per attempt.
Then, in 2022, Taylor played in just 11 games before being knocked out for the season. That year, he totaled 861 yards and four scores on the ground, registering 4.5 yards per tote. He then recorded 741 yards while reaching the end zone seven times as a rusher last season, posting 4.4 yards per carry.
Can Jonathan Taylor rebound for the Colts in 2024?
The Colts are viewed by some as a sleeper team in the AFC going into this season thanks to the explosive talent they have on the offensive side of the ball.
However, for Indianapolis to truly make any noise, Taylor will have to be at his best.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Wisconsin, was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
With Anthony Richardson on the mend and hoping to play his first full season in 2024 thanks to an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, Taylor’s production becomes that much more important.
Of course, Taylor is far from the only weapon at Richardson’s disposal.
The Colts also have an enviable receiving corps that includes Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and incoming rookie Adonai Mitchell.
While Indianapolis’ receivers aren’t exactly as flashy as those of, say, the Houston Texans, they are still an impressive group. With a healthy Taylor, the Colts could suddenly be loaded at the skill positions.
We’ll see if Jonathan Taylor can help lead Indianapolis back to the playoffs in 2024.
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The post Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Puts NFL On Notice For 2024 appeared first on NFL Analysis Network .
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