INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts standout running back Jonathan Taylor said Thursday that he has not asked the front office for a trade, even as the organization initiates a major roster shake-up ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
The comments came two days after Indianapolis dealt veteran guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and shipped defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, sparking widespread speculation over whether Taylor could be the next star out the door.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Taylor emphasized his commitment to the franchise while admitting that player movement ultimately sits outside of his authority, as reported by The Athletic and Fox 59.
“I haven’t heard anything, and I can’t control that, obviously,” Taylor told reporters. “You guys know that I’m always proud to wear the horseshoe, proud to be here. And similar to Quenton and Buckner, they were proud to wear the horseshoe, proud to be here. But obviously, circumstances may cause otherwise. So, hopefully that day may not come. But I can’t control that.”
Franchise Reset Underway
The 2-5 Colts signaled a pivot toward the future on Tuesday with a pair of significant trades. Indianapolis sent Nelson to Seattle in exchange for a 2027 third-round selection and a 2028 fifth-round draft pick. On the same day, the Colts dealt Buckner back to his original team, San Francisco, for a 2027 fourth-round draft choice.
Those departures quickly turned league-wide attention to Taylor, who remains the centerpiece of the Indianapolis offense. According to reporting from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday, competing clubs have registered substantial interest in Taylor, though rival executives remain uncertain whether the Colts will actually agree to part with him before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Indianapolis also holds significant contractual stability with the 27-year-old rusher. The front office signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August, locking him into a deal that runs through the 2028 campaign. Because of that term, team executives face little immediate pressure to unload him without receiving an overwhelming return.
Production and Focus
Taylor, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time first-team All-Pro, has continued to perform at an elite tier despite the team’s sluggish start. Over seven contests this season, he has compiled 587 rushing yards and eight touchdowns across 140 carries, adding 17 receptions for 178 yards. That follows consecutive prolific campaigns in which he ran for 1,431 yards in 2024 and 1,585 yards with 18 touchdowns last year.
Rather than dwelling on trade speculation or potential landing spots, Taylor insisted his immediate priority is rallying his teammates for a road contest against Jacksonville.
“The only thing I can control is corralling these guys in the locker room, helping us put together a great plan, and executing a great play for Jacksonville,” Taylor said, noting that division rivals are eager to capitalize on the team’s recent struggles.
Whether Indianapolis continues to dismantle its veteran core or chooses to keep Taylor as an anchor for an eventual turnaround will become clear before the league’s Nov. 10 cutoff.
