Jonathan Taylor led the NFL with 323 rushing yards in 2025, the second time in his six-year career that he has topped the stat and the third time he has topped the 300-plus mark.
In 2026, the Colts want to relieve the 27-year-old.
“We definitely need to find ways to take some of that workload off him,” quarterbacks coach DeAndre Smith said, via ESPN’s Stephen Holder . “If I find another guy or two that can take some of those carries, he’s just going to be that much better.”
“So it’s definitely been a constant conversation. I realize that. When he’s healthy, we have a chance to win every game. So that’s always the first thing I think about: making sure he’s available every week.”
It’s a good feeling going into the season. In practice, it will be harder to take Taylor off even for a few reps.
“Obviously he’s a hell of a player,” Steichen said recently. “It’s hard to take him off the field when he drives that well.”
A year ago, Taylor caught 323 of 372 Colts RB carries. Daniel Jones, who left the season with a torn Achilles after 13 games, was second on the club in rushing attempts with 45. The main game was essentially Taylor. DJ Giddens had 26 tackles over 9 games last season, second most among Indy RBs.
The question coming into camp is whether the Colts have a backup they can trust to give Taylor some reps. Giddens, a fifth-round pick in 2025, is currently sitting as a backup. Indy drafted Seth McGowan in the seventh round of the draft in April. The rookie could push for snaps in camp.
The reality is that Taylor still projects to have an overwhelming number of touches in 2026. Critic, who said he was “very specific” about his offseason work in preparation for the season, is fine with whatever the club throws at him.
“Whether it’s a heavy workload or a minimal workload,” he said, “I’m prepared and ready to go.”
Taylor is entering the final season of a three-year contract and is hoping to get an extension that will keep him in Indy for the rest of his career.