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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Colts Work Out RB Kenyan Drake

August 2nd, 2023 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Operating without their top two running backs presently, the Colts brought in a few veteran options Wednesday. Kenyan Drake, Benny Snell and Devine Ozigbo auditioned for the team, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Colts running back matters are obviously magnified, with Jonathan Taylor still not practicing. In addition to the former rushing champion’s escalating drama, the Colts lost backup Zack Moss for approximately six weeks. Moss sustained a broken arm early during training camp.

[RELATED: Teams Showing Interest In Colts’ Taylor]

Teams have called on Drake to work as a backup over the past two seasons, with the former third-round pick moving from Las Vegas to Baltimore in that span. But Drake did see steady run as the Ravens’ starter in 2022, doing so despite arriving just before the regular season began. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards‘ injuries opened the door for the ex-Dolphins draftee, who amassed 482 rushing yards (4.4 per carry) and four touchdowns with the Ravens last season. Drake, 28, finished with at least 60 rushing yards in three of his five starts. He totaled 119 in a Ravens loss to the Giants.

The Ravens have since added Melvin Gordon, lessening the need for Drake to come back. Although Dobbins has been connected to contract dissatisfaction (a topic the Colts are becoming well versed in), he should be healthier compared to his 2022 version. Edwards also remains under contract. Drake is also three years removed from being transition-tagged by the Cardinals. The Alabama product totaled back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards from 2019-20, topping out at 1,162 in ’19, when the rebuilding Dolphins dealt him to Arizona.

Snell played out his Steelers rookie contract last season, while Ozigbo saw scant work as a Broncos backup in 2022. Without Taylor and Moss, the Colts are down to Deon Jackson, ex-Rams UDFA Jake Funk and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull in the backfield.

Taylor, who underwent ankle surgery earlier this year, was believed to be healthy — per Jim Irsay, at least — before camp. Rumblings of a back injury — which Taylor has directly denied — sprang up, leading to controversy about the Colts shifting the 2021 rushing champion from the PUP list to the NFI list. That move would put Taylor’s salary at risk and make this uglier than it has already gotten. Irsay has said the Colts are not trading the contract-year back, despite his request. But the team has run into a major issue with a player who had said earlier this offseason he still wished to retire with Indianapolis. With no contract offer having emerged and a trade request issued, we are a long way from that sentiment.

Colts Sign WR Amari Rodgers

August 2nd, 2023 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two teams have cut Amari Rodgers in the past year. A third will give the former third-round pick a chance. Rodgers reached an agreement to join the Colts on Wednesday, the team announced. The team waived wideout Johnny King to clear a roster spot.

The Texans waived Rodgers last week, joining the Packers in doing so. The former Clemson wide receiver is no longer attached to his rookie deal, with no one claiming it after the Texans cut. Houston had claimed Rodgers midway through last season, using the No. 1 waiver priority to do so. Rodgers is believed to have requested the Texans waive him.

Rodgers has been unable to impress as a pro, working mostly as a return specialist. The Texans did give the ex-Trevor Lawrence college target some receiver run after claiming him last year. Rodgers caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown during six games with Houston. That reception count topped his 26-game total as a Packer; Rodgers caught just eight passes with Green Bay.

Catching the Packers’ attention as a slot option, Rodgers broke through for the ACC power as a senior in 2020. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher totaled 77 receptions for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns during Lawrence’s finale. Rodgers surpassed 400 receiving yards during Lawrence’s two underclassman seasons but has not been able to turn that college production into a pro role of note.

Letting the injury-prone Parris Campbell walk in free agency, the Colts used a third-round pick on North Carolina slot option Josh Downs. They also signed veteran inside option Isaiah McKenzie. These two look to have Indianapolis’ slot responsibilities locked down, but a practice squad opportunity could also benefit Rodgers. Though, he will try to make Indy’s active roster before taxi squads enter the equation at month’s end.

Teams Showing Interest In Jonathan Taylor

August 1st, 2023 at 9:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The escalating drama between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor certainly qualifies as one of the defining storylines during an important year for the running back position. Taylor remains out of Colts practice and has requested a trade.

As of Tuesday, the Colts are against trading the former rushing champion. A recent report also indicated a robust market should not be expected to form, as several backs — including some who have also expressed frustration about their present situations — are on track to hit free agency in 2024. Taylor is as well, though the franchise tag is a play the Colts can make. Would another team force the Colts’ hand early?

Interest is, however, expected to exist for Taylor, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Adding on that point, Rapoport indicates multiple teams are expected to call the Colts to see how resolute they are in not trading the 2021 All-Pro. No resolution between Taylor and the Colts appears close.

The former second-round pick is going into a contract year and doing so at a bad time for the running back market. But Taylor is only going into his age-24 season. Prime years should remain for the Wisconsin alum, who finished second in the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year voting. Although a team that trades for Taylor would have the option of franchise-tagging him in 2024, Rapoport adds multiple clubs are believed to be open to giving him a real contract. That would presumably mean a deal north of $12MM per year, though it is not known how high prospective suitors would be willing to go.

No team has authorized a running back deal beyond the $13MM-AAV point since the Saints reupped Alvin Kamara in August 2020. The Vikings cut bait on their $12.6MM-per-year Dalvin Cook deal this offseason, while the Bengals and Packers trimmed their $12MM-per-year backs’ pay for 2023. The salary cap has risen by nearly $30MM since the Kamara and Christian McCaffrey deals, however, and will make another climb in 2024.

Taylor voiced frustration about the market after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were not paid, and his issues with the Colts have escalated since. That said, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds that the contract-year back has been at odds with the organization for a while (Twitter link). The Colts have not made an offer, with Jim Irsay — whose previous comments about the RB position added more fuel to this fire — publicly indicating as such.

Since the Taylor drama became known, the Colts have lost Zack Moss to a broken arm. They traded Nyheim Hines last season. Fifth-round rookie Evan Hull and veteran Deon Jackson reside as the top available options currently, though a few notable free agents — Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt — remain beyond Cook. The ex-Viking’s connections remain to the AFC East at this point.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23

August 1st, 2023 at 8:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
  • Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
  • Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.

Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.

Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/23

July 31st, 2023 at 8:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: CB Lorenzo Burns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: CB Anthony Witherstone
  • Placed on IR: LB Isaiah Moore

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Derrick Gore is probably the most intriguing signee on the list, with the running back having seen time in 11 games for the Chiefs in 2021. He finished that season with 361 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, but he didn’t have a chance for a followup performance in Kansas City. After landing on IR in late August last year, he was ultimately released by the Chiefs. Gore caught on with the Saints and spent the majority of the 2022 season on their practice squad.

Yasir Durant is another Chiefs product, with the lineman getting into 11 games for Kansas City in 2020. He appeared in seven games for the Patriots in 2021 before spending most of last season on the Saints practice squad. He’ll be taking the roster spot previously held by Christian DiLauro, who got into five games for the Titans and Broncos over the past two years.

Darius Harris will be joining the Raiders following a career year in Kansas City. After being limited to only 11 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, Harris got into all 17 games for the Chiefs last year, including four starts. The former UDFA finished the year with 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and he added another five tackles in three playoff games. One of Harris’s strongest performances of the 2022 season came against the Raiders when he had 10 tackles and a sack.

Colts RB Zack Moss Suffers Broken Arm

July 31st, 2023 at 1:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the attention around the league is currently aimed at one Colts running back, but another has encountered a signficant setback. Zack Moss suffered a broken arm and is set to miss roughly six weeks (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo).

The 25-year-old began his career in Buffalo, seeing a healthy workload in his two full seasons with the team. Operating behind starter Devin Singletary in particular, and on a team which does not rely heavily on running backs in general, Moss saw 208 carries between 2020 and 2021. He parlayed that into 826 yards (on an average of just under four per carry) and eight touchdowns, but his time with the Bills came to an end last season.

Moss was part of the trade which saw Nyheim Hines dealt from Indianapolis to Buffalo at the trade deadline, setting up the Utah product for a fresh start. His usage increased upon arrival with the Colts, a team which finished the year without former rushing champion Jonathan Taylor in the lineup. Moss averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored one touchdown in eight Colts games to close out the campaign.

The 25-year-old is set to operate as Taylor’s primary backup this season, the final one of his rookie contract. Today’s news puts his Week 1 availability in doubt, however, so it will be interesting to see if the team aims to make a depth addition amidst the uncertainty surrounding Taylor’s future. The Colts’ other backs include former UDFA Deon Jackson, ex Rams seventh-rounder Jake Funk and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull.

Moss will now turn his attention to recovery, while the Colts attempt to ensure Taylor will be available to handle his standard workhorse role at the start of the season. Missing both backs for any length of time would deal a signficant blow to the team’s ground game, something which will be particularly important if rookie QB Anthony Richardson is handed the reins early in the campaign.

Colts Considering Placing RB Jonathan Taylor On NFI

July 30th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

9:45pm: The craziness continues straight out of the workhorse’s mouth as Taylor has weighed in himself on the recent reports, tweeting out that he “never had a back pain” and “never reported a back pain.”

This could be a case of reporters running amok with a story that got out of hand without confirmations or reliable sources. It could also be some damage control from Taylor, who likely realizes the financial ramifications of being placed on the NFI list.

If Taylor’s refutation is false, one would assume there would be medical records from the team’s training staff noting the back pain as a concern. And, in order to move him to the NFI list, one would assume there would need to be documentation detailing that it happened away from the team.

If Taylor never did report back pain, this could be an inside look at the tactics the team is willing to go to in order to gain leverage in a negotiation in which it already has all the power. Speculation aside, Taylor’s response through unmediated channels is further confirmation that this relationship may be deteriorating beyond repair. And fast.

8:30pm: In a wild continuation of a situation seemingly full of pettiness, the Colts have reportedly considered placing star running back Jonathan Taylor on the non-football injury list, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports. Things have gotten rather contentious between Taylor and the organization lately, and if the team were to pull off this transaction, the situation would only get rockier.

Taylor has been involved in the recent conversations pertaining to the decline of the running back market, and anticipating his future active role in the situation, Taylor made it clear that he wants to begin discussions on a new deal with Indianapolis. With team owner Jim Irsay making it clear that no extension offer has been made yet, nor does he have any current intention to offer an extension, Taylor formally requested a trade. Irsay has planted his heels in the ground, expecting Taylor to honor his rookie contract, but with no indication of good faith negotiations, Taylor felt the need to stay ahead of the eight ball.

Currently, Taylor is on the team’s physically unable to perform list. He’s still rehabilitating from an ankle surgery he underwent in January, and he came into training camp complaining of back pain. Because he began experiencing the back pain while working out on his own in Arizona, it was deemed to be a pre-existing issue, stemming from outside organized football activities. This grants the team the option of moving Taylor from the PUP list to the NFI list.

That may not seem super significant as you continue to see PUP and NFI placements here and there on our Minor NFL Transactions posts, but in a volatile situation in which money is a key point of contention, this move would be a clear escalation from the Colts’ brass. Once the season begins, if a player remains on the PUP list, the team continues to pay that player for time missed. If a player is instead on the NFI list, having suffered an injury away from team-organized events, the team is able to withhold any amount of pay it chooses, up to the player’s full base salary.

According to Nick Korte of OvertheCap.com, it may not end there. The current collective bargaining agreement reportedly “opens up a path for his contract to be tolled,” something only available for NFI players in a contract year. Taylor can avoid this by returning to action by the sixth game of the regular season. The CBA also “opens up a path (for Taylor) to fail to accrue a season in 2023.” This would mean that, instead of entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, he would be a restricted free agent.

Moving Taylor to the NFI becomes an immediate message to the young running back: Not only are we not sure we want to pay you in the future, we’re not even sure we want to pay you now. A year removed from having led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, it seems insane to be this dismissive to a player asking to work towards a future together. The team has yet to make the move, but it’s become clear that the two sides are nowhere near a path that leads to resolution anytime soon.

Jonathan Taylor Requests Trade From Colts

July 29th, 2023 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

9:47pm: A text from Irsay to SI’s Albert Breer reads, “We’re not trading Jonathan… end of discussion. Not now and not in October!” That comes as little surprise given the lack of value the Colts would be able to find on a deal which would see the acquiring team only have one year of play from Taylor. On that point, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington describes the potential trade market as being “minimal,” with free agency looming for Taylor and a number of other big-name backs (Twitter link). With the value of the position being what it is, it is difficult to envision the 24-year-old finding a new team willing to make a long-term financial commitment.

7:24pm: Saturday has produced the latest development in the ongoing saga between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor. The All-Pro running back has formally requested a trade, as noted (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Taylor met face-to-face earlier today with owner Jim Irsay to discuss his situation. The former is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which has opened the door to the tension which has increased recently. Irsay made it clear earlier this week that no extension offer has been made yet, and that none will be made until after the 2023 season.

Providing further clarity on the matter, ESPN’s Stephen Holder tweets that Taylor (who recently changed agents) actually asked to be moved “several days ago.” The team’s response, he adds, was not definitive in the affirmative or negative. That could add further to the drama which has been escalating, amidst a lack of interest on the team’s part to commit long-term to its most high-profile offensive player and the wider financial realities which explain why that is the case.

Taylor had expressed a desire to remain in Indianapolis before contract talks hit a wall, and Irsay fanned the flames with public remarks about the nature of the running back market. They were not aimed specifically at Taylor, but they underscore the reality that running backs have not generated financial interest from teams in the way most other positions have. That fact has been a topic of conversation amongst key active players at the position.

An ankle injury limited Taylor to 11 games in 2022, a season in which the Colts’ offense struggled mightily. He recorded a career-low 861 rushing yards (on an average of 4.5 per carry), a far cry from the previous year. The 24-year-old led the league in production on the ground (1,811 yards, 18 touchdowns) in 2021, which seemed to cement his status as a fixture in Indianapolis for years to come. He is currently on the PUP list — as Mike Chappell of Fox 59 tweets, Taylor failed his physical — and questions will be asked about his ability to return to pre-injury form this season.

Irsay has shown a willingness to invest early in serval key Colts players over the years, but the RB market has understandably influenced his stance with respect to Taylor. With teams around the league showing an aversion to signing backs to lucrative second deals, it will be interesting to see how much of a trade market develops for either a one-year rental or a club willing to part with draft and financial capital to acquire the Wisconsin alum. Irsay’s latest remarks on the matter will no doubt add fuel to the fire in this situation.

“If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one’s gonna miss us,” Irsay said when speaking to the media on Saturday (Twitter link via James Boyd of The Athletic). “The league goes on. We know that. The National Football [League] rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/23

July 29th, 2023 at 7:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

  • Activated from NFI: G Colby Gossett 
  • Waived (injury designation): CB BoPete Keyes

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from Titans): OL James Empey

Houston Texans

  • Placed on IR: OL Dylan Deatherage

Indianapolis Colts

  • Waived: CB Cole Coleman

New York Giants

With Butler being moved from the NFI list to injured reserve, he is out for the season. The former first-rounder signed a futures deal with New York in January, after spending the past campaign on and off the team’s practice squad. He made just one appearance for the Giants in 2022, and will be four years removed from his career-best six-sack season with the Panthers in 2019. Butler, 29, has started 19 of his 77 career regular season games.

Colts Have Not Submitted Contract Offer To Jonathan Taylor

July 28th, 2023 at 10:30am CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of the latest exchanges during the ongoing contract situation between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor, an interesting development emerged. Owner Jim Irsay noted that no formal offer has been made to the former rushing champion. It also appears that will not change any time soon.

Irsay drew criticism – from, among others, Taylor’s agent – for his remarks concerning the idea of running backs negotiating a separate agreement from the CBA all players are subject to. While clarifying his thoughts on the matter, he acknowledged that his social media post was not specifically aimed at Taylor, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

“The comment wasn’t really directed at Jonathan,” Irsay said during an interview with ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “We haven’t exchanged any contract numbers with each other or anything like that. So, it’s not like we’re in the midst of that.”

Taylor and the Colts conducted extension talks last month, but as Irsay confirmed, no formal offer has been made. The former appeared to put himself in line for a sizeable second contract (as far as running backs are concerned) in 2021 when he comfortably led the league in rushing and scrimmage yards. As was the case with the team as a whole, though, things did not go according to plan last season. The Wisconsin product was limited to 11 games due to an ankle injury and his 4.5 yards per carry marked a career low. A return to his previous form will be needed for Taylor’s Colts career to continue.

“Our hope is Jonathan has an outstanding year and that we have a good year as a team and then we get his next contract done,” Irsay added. “That’s the hope. We think the world of him as a person, as a player. It’s just timing. When your time comes to get paid, then you get paid.”

The Colts have worked out extensions with the likes of All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard and offensive line mainstays Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith and Ryan Kelly before they began the final year of their respective rookie deals. The same will not be the case for Taylor, however, something which comes as little surprise given his down year in 2022 and, more generally, the nature of the financial landscape at the RB position.

A strong showing from the former second-rounder will no doubt boost his value with the Colts or other suitors, if he is allowed to hit the open market. Taylor will enter the 2023 season with plenty to be determined knowing that his financial future will remain unresolved until the campaign has finished.

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