INDIANAPOLIS – The bottom line is as good as it gets.
There was a franchise record and NFL-best 1,811 yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2021.
And 1,431 yards and 12 more TDs in 2024 despite missing three games.
And 603 yards and seven TDs, both league bests, as the Indianapolis Colts have taken the NFL surprise with their 5-1 start.
Since being selected with the 41st overall pick in 2020, he’s averaged 90.6 rushing yards per game. That’s No. 1 among active backs – Derrick Henry is next at 83.5 – and No. 5 all-time. The four ahead of him have bronze busts in Canton: Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and Eric Dickerson.
“Whenever he’s been out there, the production speaks for itself,’’ said linebacker Zaire Franklin. “The way he finished last season . . . just on the heater he was on.’’
Over the final five games of ‘24: Averages of 144.6 yards per game and 5.1 per attempt.
Jonathan Taylor has few peers when it comes his specialty, which is running the football against the best athletes on the planet. James Cook. Bijan Robinson. Saquon Barkley. Christian McCaffrey. Maybe Derrick Henry, who might finally be showing his age.
While it’s easy to be blinded by the brilliance of the blend of patience and sharp cuts in tight spaces and power and acceleration, so much of what makes Taylor the player he is can be traced to everything he does leading up to his next season and his next game.
He credits his preparation and recovery routines.
“You’d like to think every time you come into this building – each and every single year – you were able to elevate your level of play via your work in the offseason,’’ Taylor said. “And then continue that with training camp, putting it to actual use and application of real football rather than just cones and things like that in the offseason. But that’s what you want to do.
“And then when you get here, you want to be able to find a way to get better each and every single week throughout the season. It’s not just an offseason thing. You have to find a way in order to elevate that level of play and sustain it as well. That’s something that the greats have done.’’
Taylor mentioned long-time Colts standout receiver and current position coach Reggie Wayne. He asked folks in the building who experienced Wayne’s work ethic during a 14-year Hall of Fame-worthy career.
“It’s like, ‘Man, he just came to work every day and found a way to get better,’’’ Taylor said.
Just getting better
That’s resulted in Taylor improving his work as a feature back as well as on third down, both as a reliable receiver and willing blocker. He’s already caught 20 passes for 147 yards and one TD. His career highs were 40 receptions and 360 yards in his supernova ’21 season.
“With time, players get better and better,’’ Steichen said. “He’s playing at the ultimate level right now the way he’s running, and it’s a credit to the guys up front.
“But I think his vision has been incredible, off the charts this year. He’s running hard. He’s running physical. Doing a helluva job in pass protection, too, and obviously getting him touches out of the backfield, too, as a receiver.’’
Watch Taylor take a handoff from Daniel Jones, and you’ll see patience in the face of an angry defense. He’ll feel his way, trust his blockers and wait for the right time to burst.
Again, that’s a result of offseason work.
“Definitely just being a little more patient,’’ he said. “I know there have been times where you kind of want to make a play, so you may go outside the parameters of the scheme. But just understanding you have to stay patient.
“And sometimes you’ve got to run through the smoke. In other words, it may not look like something’s there, but you just trust the scheme, trust the guys up front. Next thing you know, you’re popping out the backside.
“But that also helps in everything, especially in the pass game whether you got protection, just maybe not getting out as quick. Just being a little more patient and kind of letting plays develop more.’’
Along with leading the league in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing TDs, Taylor has rushed for a league-best 29 first downs and is tied for the most 40-plus-yard runs (two). Of his 115 attempts, 15 (13%) have gained at least 10 yards.
As much as the Colts are leaning on Jones’ resurgence for their strong start, there’s no denying the load they’re placing on Taylor. Among running backs on the roster, he’s accounted for all but 24 of the 139 carries and 85 of the 686 yards.
Taylor is averaging 19.2 attempts per game. Over the past 11 games, he’s averaging 23.4.
Because of his offseason regimen, Taylor is ready for whatever is expected of him.
“That’s what you do in the offseason,’’ he said. “You work like you’re going to take every snap. You’ve got to prepare your body for the workload.
“If you get less, that’s a plus for your body. But if not, you know you’re prepared.’’
That preparation must be complemented by a trusted post-game routine. Running backs absorb contact virtually every play they’re on the field.
Again, Taylor has a system.
“For me, it starts right after the game. I mean right after the game,’’ he said. “I’m immediately into the cold tub to try and halt and stop any inflammation that may set in until I can get home. And then on top of that with red-light (therapy), stretching as well as hydration.
“And people don’t understand there’s no recovery modality that you can use to get around a great night of sleep. I mean that’s the ultimate, the No. 1 recovery that you can do.’’
The goal is to be in bed by 9.
“Maybe not fast asleep, but just being off your feet, resting in bed by 9 o’clock to ensure that you get a full, at least eight hours of sleep, I think is a big thing for me.”
Raimann on Taylor
Barnhard Raimann walked into the locker room as a third-round draft pick in 2022. The new left tackle out of Central Michigan was a tad awestruck, especially with Taylor, who was fresh off that 1,811-yard season.
“You watch him and you watch the Colts and you’re like, ‘Oh my god, Jonathan Taylor. This is the best running back ever’’’ Raimann said. “Just a tremendous player.’’
But he was surprised by Taylor’s demeanor.
“How cool of a guy he was outside of football,’’ Raimann said. “Coming out of college I was a little star struck: ‘Hey’ that’s Jonathan Taylor.’
“You become teammates with him and meet him in the locker room or you just see him outside of the building and you see such a laid-back and cool guy. You don’t really expect that as a rookie.’’
Four years later, nothing surprises Raimann regarding Taylor.
“It’s just Jonathan Taylor doing Jonathan Taylor things,’’ he said. “He’s just an incredible football player and an incredible teammate as well. He breaks tackles. He’s always there in protection. He prepares every single day.
“He’s the type of running back you love to block for.’’
Often, Raimann appreciates Taylor more during video review. He’s usually preoccupied during the game with his blocking assignment.
“You watch the film and maybe this play during the game didn’t feel like much. Maybe they had a great blitz dialed up,’’ he said. “Then you look up and Jonathan Taylor is still running somehow.
“In a game, you don’t even realize what happened, but when you watch video, you see the spin move or stiff arm. It’s just crazy because he can beat you in so many ways.
“If he gets an edge, he’s off to the races.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.