Jonathan Taylor is returning to the Colts with his long-term future finally set.
The star running back and the Colts agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract extension with $26.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
The Colts had just removed the questionable injury designation on Taylor on Saturday, clearing the way for him to make his season debut Sunday against the Titans.
Taylor notably held out of training camp while seeking a long-term extension, and then was placed on the physically unable to participate list and missed the first four games with an ankle injury.
Prior to the extension, he was entering the final season of his rookie deal and his holdout turned into a growing saga.
The Colts reportedly previously allowed Taylor to seek trade partners, though no substantial ground was ever made, and a long-term future together appeared unlikely.
Owner Jim Irsay seemed to accuse Taylor’s agents of negotiating “in bad faith” in July, though he later walked back the comments.
But Taylor now becomes one of the NFL’s highest-paid running backs, a position that has seen an increasing void of significant long-term deals.
He’s the first at the position to land a multiple-season contract worth $10 million or more per year since Nick Chubb’s 2021 extension.
Taylor sat out all of the team’s offseason workouts and training camp while rehabbing offseason ankle surgery and seeking further clarity over his future.
He was removed off the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday and he subsequently returned to practice.
“If somebody wasn’t committed, they wouldn’t be here,” Taylor told reporters on Thursday in his first public comments since June. “Right now, I’m here and my No. 1 goal is really to attack this first practice. It’s been over 290 days, I believe. When you’re not doing what you love, you’re going to notice it, so my main goal has been to attack this first day.”
The Colts drafted Taylor in the second round of the 2020 draft after starring at Wisconsin.
He promptly recorded 1,168 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns as well as 299 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown his rookie season.
He erupted his second season in the league, rushing for NFL-highs 1,811 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns as well as 360 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
But he was hobbled by an ankle injury and overall offensive dysfunction last year, playing just 11 games and rushing for 861 yards and four touchdowns.
Credit: Source link
