The Indianapolis Colts are making an improbable playoff run this season with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew and first-time head coach Shane Steichen.
But the team will be without one of its best players for the second consecutive week.
The Colts officially ruled out running back Jonathan Taylor for the team’s Week 14 match against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 8, 2023
Taylor had thumb surgery recently and is expected to miss more time.
However, the Colts’ decision not to put Taylor on injured reserve likely means the team thinks he can return sooner rather than later or that he’d be fully healed in time for the playoffs should Indianapolis make the seven-team field.
Zack Moss will once again resume the starting job, a role he inherited earlier this season while Taylor was out for the first four weeks with an ankle injury.
Moss rushed 96 times for 466 yards and four touchdowns during a five-game stretch from Weeks 2-6.
He also caught 14 balls for 110 yards and a score.
Taylor returned by Week 5 but didn’t retake the starting job until Week 7.
But when he was at full strength, Taylor rushed for 377 yards and four touchdowns in five games, during which the Colts went 3-2.
Taylor missed this past week after he underwent surgery and Moss took over in a 31-28 win for Indianapolis.
So while the absence will be noticed, the loss of Taylor doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the playoff-minded Colts.
Moss is good enough to keep the ground game going, and Minshew has proven himself an adept starter for the injured Anthony Richardson.
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