Two days after returning to the Indianapolis Colts, Jonathan Taylor is out of the facility again. This time, he has the team's permission.
Taylor was excused from Colts practice to attend a personal matter, according to ESPN. The absence is not related to Taylor's contract status, which has been a subject of controversy over the past few weeks. Taylor rejoined the Colts at training camp on Monday, according to NFL Media, even while seeking a trade out of town.
Taylor has been away from the team while rehabbing his ankle and while he remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Taylor initially reported to training camp, but did not take the field while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. Sometime last week, Taylor left team facilities to continue rehab out of state, according to The Athletic's Stephen Holder, amid concerns over the Colts' medical management.
Before camp, Holder previously reported, the Colts requested that Taylor report early for a medical assessment, but the former All-Pro "viewed the request warily," believing it to be "part of an effort to pressure him" into returning to the field. When he did report, Taylor allegedly complained of back and hamstring pain, adding to the Colts' concerns, though Taylor has publicly disputed this.
The running back remains on PUP and intends to practice when he's fully healthy, per Holder, but his feud with Colts brass appears far from over. Team owner Jim Irsay, who's downplayed Taylor's value and spearheaded a refusal by the club to negotiate a long-term contract with the running back, has also indicated he won't honor Taylor's private requests to be traded.
After ESPN's report about Taylor's anticipated return to camp, Irsay took to Twitter with a potentially related message: "Most things I worry about ... never happen anyway."
Since Taylor has been absent and backup Zack Moss is injured, the Colts have leaned on reserves Deon Jackson, Evan Hull, Jake Funk and recent veteran addition Kenyan Drake in the backfield.
