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Stephen Holder, ESPNOct 25, 2024, 05:11 PM ET
- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
INDIANAPOLIS — Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will return to the lineup Sunday after missing three games with a high ankle sprain.
Taylor practiced for a third consecutive day Friday and was not given a status designation on the week’s final injury report, indicating he is ready to go for Sunday’s pivotal AFC matchup at the Houston Texans.
Taylor was a full participant Thursday and Friday after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday.
Before this week, Taylor had not practiced since sustaining the injury in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. The Colts experienced struggles running the ball in his absence, averaging 89.6 rushing yards during Weeks 5 and 6. The return of dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson from his own two-game absence last week gave the run game a boost, with the Colts registering a season-high 155 rushing yards behind Richardson’s 56 yards on the ground.
Now, the return of Taylor gives the Colts another shot to establish the potent rushing attack they expected to have with the combined efforts of Richardson and Taylor, who have shared the backfield for less than four full games since Richardson was drafted last season because of their respective injuries.
In four games this season, Taylor is averaging 87.3 yards per game with four touchdowns and 11 explosive runs, defined as 10 yards or longer.
“It felt great to finally be out there because you’ve been in the training room,” Taylor said this week. “It’s a great place, but that’s not really where you want to be.”
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who has missed five games with his own high ankle sprain, practiced this week and is considered questionable for the game.
