Jonathan Taylor is still set to play for the Indianapolis Colts in their Week 8 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, even as trade rumors are absolutely exploding around him. It feels wild, right? Saturday morning, everyone was buzzing that the Colts are way more open to moving Taylor than before, making a deal look seriously on the table. So, with a trade looking more and more likely, why in the world would they even risk him on the field?
The Colts Aren’t Tipping Their Hand, And Here’s Why
Conventional wisdom would scream, “Bench him! Protect that trade value!” But apparently, the Colts are playing a different game. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Taylor *is* playing tomorrow, and the reason is pretty clear. Holder reports, “No deal is imminent, and I imagine they want to send the message that they are willing to keep him (which I do believe is true).” That’s the key, isn’t it? If they bench Taylor without a trade already done, they basically wave a giant flag saying, “Yep, we’re definitely trading him!” That tanks their leverage in negotiations. Benching a star player like Taylor only makes sense if the deal is already sealed. Otherwise, they’re just showing their cards too early.
A High-Stakes Gamble For Indianapolis
This decision is a huge gamble, no doubt. The Colts are absolutely running the risk of injury by playing Taylor. One bad hit, and suddenly his trade value could plummet. But it’s a calculated risk. They can limit his reps in the game, giving him some playing time to keep up appearances while trying to preserve his health. They need to prove to other NFL teams that they’re serious about keeping him, even if the rumors are flying faster than a Julio Rodriguez line drive. And let’s be real, there’s still a decent chance Taylor doesn’t get traded, even with all this Saturday morning steam. Sitting him for Week 8, only to keep him afterward, would look way stranger than playing him and then trading him a week later.
This Colts team is in full-on selling mode, already having shipped out Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and with Josh Downs requesting a trade. Taylor being on the move could still happen, even if he sees the field on Sunday against their AFC South rival Jaguars. It could be his last game in a Colts uniform. What a way to go out, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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