Breaking News: Colts Ink Jonathan Taylor to Lucrative $42M Extension – Details Inside

Jonathan Taylor and the Colts have reached agreement on a three-year, $42 million contract extension that includes $26.5 million guaranteed and makes him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.

Taylor has also been removed from the physically unable to perform list and is now cleared to make his season debut against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

This agreement makes Taylor the first running back in almost 800 days since Nick Chubb in 2021 to land a long-term contract worth $10 million or more per year.

During the offseason, Taylor had been seeking a new deal after the Colts decided to delay signing the 2021 NFL rushing champion to an extension. This decision led to a dispute between Taylor and the team, as the running back sought more security after playing through injuries during the previous season.

After months of animosity, Colts owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard, director of football administration Mike Bluem, and Jonathan Taylor’s representatives, Malki Kawa and Ethan Lock, finally came to an agreement on a contract extension.

The Colts allowed Taylor to return from the PUP list earlier this week, initiating a 21-day period during which they could activate him to the 53-man roster. However, Taylor showed in just two days of practice that he was ready to play against the Titans, a divisional rival that has beaten them in their previous five meetings.

Coach Shane Steichen commended Taylor’s performance and conditioning after evaluating him.

“He looked good,” Steichen said on Friday. “In terms of conditioning, he looked good. It has been a while since he’s been out there, but he looked good in the last couple of days.”

Taylor, 24, had not played or practiced with the Colts since December due to a recurring ankle injury. He underwent surgery on the ankle in January but reported lingering pain during training camp, stating that he needed additional rehabilitation. These circumstances led to Taylor requesting a trade.

When asked about his future in Indianapolis, Taylor remained tight-lipped, responding, “I’m here right now,” and expressing his focus on getting healthy.

Steichen dismissed concerns about Taylor not having taken a hit since his last game and missing all of training camp.

“If he plays on Sunday, obviously it will be the first time he’s been hit in a while,” Steichen commented. “But again, he did a good job running the football, finding the holes. He’s a veteran player. He’s played a lot of football and he looked good.”

In recent months, running backs have faced challenges in getting fair contracts, as teams seem to devalue the position. Running backs Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders both held out during the offseason in an attempt to secure long-term extensions, but neither was successful.

Since joining the Colts in 2020 as a second-round draft pick, Taylor has proven himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive players. In 2021, he set franchise single-season rushing records with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns. With a total of 3,841 rushing yards in his three seasons, Taylor ranks fourth in the league since his debut.