Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has formally requested a trade, NFL Network reported Saturday.
Taylor’s decision came following a meeting with Jim Irsay on the Colts owner’s bus, per the report.
Irsay addressed the meeting with his former league rushing champ Saturday, telling reporters, “I don’t need to clear the air but I just needed to remind him that no one treats his players better than this franchise.”
The reported trade request comes amid recent frustration among several of the league’s prominent running backs over the salary market at the position. Several notable free agent rushers — Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette (all of whom will be 28 by the start of this season) — have struggled to find their desired salary figures and failed to be re-signed this offseason.
Taylor, 24, led the league in rushing yards (1,811), carries (332) and rushing touchdowns (18) during the 2021 season before tapering off a bit last year. He rushed for 861 yards on 192 carries in 11 games but found the end zone just four times on the ground. Taylor underwent minor ankle surgery in January after admitting he had battled a nagging injury for most of the season.
In three seasons with Indianapolis, Taylor has amassed 3,841 rushing yards and 33 TDs on 756 carries. He also has 104 receptions for 802 yards and three scores.
Zack Moss, Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull are slated to take over backfield duties should Taylor end up being dealt.
Originally posted on fieldlevelmedia.com