Jonathan Taylor spoke about what Indianapolis has meant to him after the Colts lost 27-23 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, with Tuesday's NFL trade deadline raising questions about whether his time with the team is nearing its end. The running back, who has spent six and a half seasons in Indianapolis, is among the players potentially on the move.
During Taylor's pregame warmup, highlights from his career appeared on the stadium's two large video boards. The montage was not necessarily a farewell, but it came after weeks of discussion about his trade value. Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champion, described Indianapolis as the place where he matured after college and began building a family. “I’m very grateful for the city of Indianapolis,” he said.
The Colts fell to 2-7 with their fifth consecutive defeat despite recovering from a 10-point deficit in the second half. Indianapolis moved ahead 23-20 with 1:37 remaining, only for Dallas to respond with a 1-yard touchdown run by Javonte Williams. An interception on the Colts' final possession ended their chances of another comeback.
Taylor finished with 46 rushing yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 18 yards. He did not add to his franchise-record 77 rushing touchdowns, and a fumble in the fourth quarter denied Indianapolis an important scoring opportunity. The Colts have already dealt multiple players while accumulating draft picks and opening salary cap space for 2027.
Coach Shane Steichen, whose position is also under threat, has appreciated Taylor's continued attention to playing amid the uncertainty. He declined to discuss a possible deal involving the running back. “He’s on our football team,” Steichen said.
Quarterback Daniel Jones could also be traded. After an impressive first 10 games with Indianapolis in 2025, he has struggled with turnovers this season and was benched during last week's 42-7 loss at Jacksonville. Against Dallas, Jones completed 20 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. His lone interception, caught by Caleb Downs with 35 seconds remaining, secured the Cowboys' victory.
Jones said he had given little thought to being traded and had concentrated on preparing to play despite the distractions surrounding the team. Receiver Josh Downs, however, requested a trade last week. After making three catches for 24 yards against a Dallas team featuring his younger brother Caleb, Downs said he was willing either to remain in Indianapolis or move elsewhere.
The Colts host Miami next week, but Taylor and Jones could be elsewhere by then. Taylor indicated that he would like to continue with the only NFL franchise he has represented, while acknowledging that the decision is beyond his control. “We just play the waiting game now,” he said.
