Taylor is in a good spot to put up big numbers.
Jonathan Taylor has had some serious ups and downs during his career. From a monster sophomore season that saw him play every game while eclipsing 1,800 yards to holding out for a better contract and missing a ton of time due to a repaired ankle, Taylor has played the hero and the villain as an Indianapolis Colt. After struggling in his third and fourth year to stay on the field, 2024 looked more like the Taylor fans saw in 2021. Currently, he appears to be closer to last year’s version which is a welcomed sight.
A huge part of Taylor’s success is health. It was what derailed two of his first five years in the league. Last year wasn’t perfect, but playing 14 games and racking up 1,400 yards is a step in the right direction. Seeing a bounce back came as a huge sigh of relief because so many promising careers can trickle into nothing. Having success in 2024 shows those years could have been outliers due to his ankle issue. Fans know if Taylor stays on the field, he will produce and is good for several big runs a season.
Another major factor will be the viability of Anthony Richardson. When he is on the field, the defense can’t crowd the box and take away as many running lanes. The growth and maturity of Richardson’s game will allow the Colts to have the two headed monster they dreamed of when they drafted him to pair with Taylor. If Richardson continues to struggle, so too will Taylor to find success. This is a unit that will feed off each other in a symbiotic relationship.
Fans should feel encouraged after what they saw last year. Jonathan Taylor’s burst was back, and he was ripping off big runs that we hadn’t seen in several seasons. Keep him healthy and have the weapons around him perform to par and Taylor may have a career year. There are a lot of pieces to put together, but they are all there.