The Colts Have a Jonathan Taylor Problem - And It’s Not What You Think
When you think about the Indianapolis Colts' offseason priorities, it’s easy to circle the defense. The front seven needs help - youth, depth, playmakers.
That’s not up for debate. But if Chris Ballard wants to build a contender in 2026, he can’t afford to ignore one of the most glaring - and strangely persistent - issues on the roster: Jonathan Taylor needs help.
Not a new contract. Not more carries. Help.
For six seasons, Taylor has been the engine of the Colts' offense. He’s racked up over 7,500 rushing yards, added nearly 1,500 more through the air, and found the end zone 76 times.
That’s elite production in any era, let alone in today’s pass-heavy NFL. But the wear and tear is starting to show, and the Colts are tempting fate by continuing to run him into the ground without a legitimate backup plan.
Let’s rewind to the start of 2025. Through the first 10 games, Taylor looked like his old self - maybe even better.
He was averaging 114 yards per game, 6.0 yards per carry, and had already punched in 15 touchdowns. The Colts were rolling at 8-2, and Taylor was the heartbeat of the offense.
Then came the bye week. And after that? A different story.
Taylor’s workload didn’t dip - he still averaged 19 carries per game - but the production cratered. His yards per game dropped to 64.
His yards per carry fell to 3.3. He scored just three more touchdowns over the final seven games.
For a player who’s built his reputation on explosive runs and relentless consistency, that’s a red flag waving in plain sight.
Yes, other factors were at play. Offensive line health, defensive adjustments, and the quarterback carousel all matter.
But it’s hard to ignore the pattern: Taylor starts hot, then fades under the weight of a season’s worth of hits. It’s not a knock on him - it’s just the reality of being a workhorse back in today’s NFL.
And that’s the problem Ballard has yet to solve.
Since drafting Taylor, the Colts have barely invested in the running back room. Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins were serviceable when Taylor arrived, but neither stuck around long enough to be true complements.
Zach Moss was a solid midseason trade in 2022, but he’s long gone. The team has cycled through a carousel of short-term options like Deon Jackson, Trey Sermon, and Ameer Abdullah - none of whom made a dent.
In the draft? Ballard has taken just two backs since Taylor - both in the fifth round.
Evan Hull had one career carry before leaving town. DJ Giddens showed flashes but was ultimately passed over for Abdullah down the stretch.
That’s not exactly a pipeline.
The result? Taylor has handled more than 55% of all Colts rushing attempts since entering the league - a number that jumps above 60% when you exclude games he missed due to injury. In three of his six seasons, the team’s second-leading rusher has been a quarterback.
Compare that to the rest of the AFC South. In Tennessee, Tony Pollard had 3.7 times more carries than Tyjae Spears.
In Jacksonville, Travis Etienne out-carried Bhayshul Tuten by a 3.1 margin. Even in Houston, Woody Marks only had 1.6 times more carries than Nick Chubb.
That kind of balance is the norm in today’s NFL.
In Indianapolis? Taylor had 12.4 times more carries than Giddens last season. That’s not just out of balance - it’s unsustainable.
We’ve seen this movie before. Teams ride elite backs until the wheels fall off, and then wonder what went wrong. The Colts have a chance to flip the script - to extend Taylor’s prime, preserve his explosiveness, and keep the offense humming - but only if they finally invest in a real running mate.
Chris Ballard has a long to-do list this offseason. The defensive front needs reinforcements.
The receiver room could look very different depending on what happens with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. The quarterback situation?
That’s a puzzle in itself.
But if Ballard doesn’t prioritize finding a true No. 2 running back - someone who can take 8-12 carries a game and keep Taylor fresh - he risks watching his most valuable offensive weapon wear down before the Colts are truly ready to contend.
The clock’s ticking. Taylor has carried this team for long enough. It’s time someone else helped carry the load.