Irsay: Colts trying 'to get the waters as calm as they can' with Taylor
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is excited for the return of star running back Jonathan Taylor and wants to put the differences between the two sides in the past.
"We're excited to have Jonathan Taylor back," Irsay said Saturday during the Colts-Bears preseason game, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "I know these things are always difficult. I respect any time people are trying to fight for their position for their families and all those things, and I've been around it so long that the biggest thing that I preach is timing is everything. We're really looking forward to him playing his way into being the Jonathan Taylor he was.
"And we're really excited to have him, and we want to do everything we can to support him and embrace him as a Colt, 'cause he's a great young man. I can't say enough about him and his family. Look, you have these problems, you know how it is. You never go in with no problems at all. These days you hope you have less contractual problems because the way the CBA is, and they work a lot of things through. But you have them, and I know (general manager) Chris Ballard is going to work hard to try to get the waters as calm as they can and go forward."
Taylor, who left the team to attend to a personal matter last week, is expected to rejoin the team on Sunday, according to IndyStar's Joel A. Erickson. Colts head coach Shane Steichen is unsure if Taylor will participate in practice. The former All-Pro halfback previous left the team to focus on rehabbing his ankle before returning to the team facility.
The NFL's 2021 rushing champion has missed all of training camp while on the Colts' physically unable to perform list due to a high-ankle sprain that he sustained during his 2022 campaign. Taylor underwent surgery in January to address the ailment.
Irsay's comments are the first from the team owner on the subject since he held a private meeting with Taylor on his luxury bus nearly a month ago. The meeting took place on the same night that Taylor publicly requested a trade amid stalled negotiations on a contract extension. The 24-year-old tailback is entering the final year of his rookie contract that will see him earn $4.3 million, per Over the Cap. Taylor is looking for a new deal similar to those negotiated for teammates Quenton Nelson, Shaquille Leonard, and Braden Smith.
Ballard has been adamant that Taylor's health has been the issue keeping off the field and that he needs to be completely healthy before anything is done.
The Wisconsin product has rushed for 3,841 yards and 33 touchdowns with a 5.1 rushing yards per attempt average.