The Jonathan Taylor situation has turned into one of those NFL stories that seems to shift every few hours, and Sunday only added another layer of confusion.
On one hand, the Colts are still putting Taylor on the field. On the other, the team’s stance on his future has been all over the map, with reports swinging from “not going anywhere” to “more likely than not” to be dealt. That inconsistency sparked a sharp reaction from former Chargers defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko, who went after Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon on social media.
"They protected that owner because of her gender but what she is doing is absolute malpractice," Fehoko posted. "How do you say we ain’t shopping Taylor then go back on your word and say 'nvm we’re open to receiving calls' but you now play him cause you feel like you can still win the south."
Fehoko did not explain who he meant by “they,” and he did not offer any examples to back up the claim of gender favoritism. Still, the post captured just how messy the Taylor discussion has become.
The running back enters Week 8 with eight rushing touchdowns, the most in the NFL. That total is also the fifth-most he has scored in a single season in his career, and there’s still plenty of season left. Spotrac lists Taylor on a $44 million deal.
The reporting around his trade status only deepened the uncertainty. On Sunday, Aditi Kinkhabwala said in an NFL on CBS Sports clip posted on X that she had been told Taylor was staying put.
"I have been assured by the Colts that they are not soliciting offers for the running back and that they are not actively seeking to move him," Kinkhabwala said.
That came after Jordan Schultz reported earlier in the day that multiple teams had checked in on Taylor and that a deal was “more likely than not.” Schultz said the Vikings, Giants, Broncos, Bengals and Packers were among the teams that had inquired.
"As the #Colts continue to field trade offers for star RB Jonathan Taylor, sources say the Vikings, Giants, Broncos, Bengals and Packers are among the teams that have checked in," Schultz posted. "The asking price is believed to be too high right now, but sources do believe a trade is leaning to be more likely than not at this point."
For now, the only thing that feels certain is that the picture around Taylor remains cloudy. One of those reports will end up being right.
The other won’t. Fans are left waiting to find out which is which.
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