INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that star running back Jonathan Taylor has not asked to be dealt, even as the organization continues a sweeping roster teardown ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Addressing reporters following the departures of longtime defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and guard Quenton Nelson, Steichen flatly answered “no” when asked if Taylor had submitted a trade request. Several outside teams have expressed interest in Taylor, according to ESPN, but the head coach dismissed outside speculation surrounding the former All-Pro.
“Those are hypothetical things right now,” Steichen said, as reported by ESPN. “I know there’s stuff floating around out there, but JT’s on our football team.”
Roster shakeup sparks receiver request
While Taylor remains in Indianapolis for now, wideout Josh Downs has formally asked for a move, ESPN reported Wednesday. Downs, a fourth-year receiver in the final season of his rookie contract, sought an exit after contract negotiations stalled despite the team’s shift into rebuilding mode.
Downs, 25, has caught 26 passes for 307 yards and no touchdowns this season while dealing with double coverage in an offense hampered by injuries and inconsistent play under center. Asked about the situation Wednesday, Downs acknowledged the uncertainty.
“I’m open to whatever. Whatever comes my way, come my way and we go from there,” Downs said, according to ESPN. He added: “I’m here right now. I’m where my feet are. We got the Jags this weekend and so I’m in the game plan. So, I’ve got to be ready to go.”
Front office fires sale begins
The sudden upheaval follows the dismissal of longtime general manager Chris Ballard last week. Indianapolis, sitting at 2-5, launched an immediate liquidation of expensive veteran contracts on Tuesday.
The Colts traded Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round draft choice in 2027. Nelson went to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round selection. Steichen declined to reveal whether either veteran had asked to be traded before the deals were executed, saying he would keep that communication private.
“Anytime you lose guys like that, it hurts,” Steichen told reporters. “But that’s the NFL and that’s the hard part about it. That’s what we signed up for.”
The rapid shift toward the future presents a sharp contrast to the aggressive posture Indianapolis took just one year ago. At the 2025 trade deadline, the Colts sent wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round draft selections to the New York Jets to land cornerback Sauce Gardner.
“It’s definitely tough,” Gardner told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s different than when I first got here. But we’re battle-tested. I’m a man of faith, so it’s one of those things where it’s like everything happens for a reason. We’re going to overcome this thing.”
Decisions looming ahead of deadline
Taylor agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension prior to the season that keeps him under club control through 2028. NFL Network reported the Colts still view Taylor as a foundational piece for their turnaround, though rival teams have tested the waters.
Indianapolis faces additional roster decisions before Nov. 10, with veterans on expiring deals such as defensive tackle Grover Stewart and receiver Keenan Allen potentially drawing interest as the franchise shifts focus to future draft capital.
