Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Colts will be without star RB for several weeks

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/28/23

The Indianapolis Colts got their update on star running back Jonathan Taylor, and it is probably not the news they wanted.

Team owner Jim Irsay told James Boyd of The Athletic on Tuesday that Taylor will be undergoing surgery on his injured thumb and is expected to miss at least the next two to three weeks.

There is also still the possibility that he could be placed on injured reserve and miss as many as four weeks.

Taylor was injured in the Colts' 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

BREAKING: Jonathan Taylor will undergo thumb surgery tomorrow in LA with the hope that he can return in 2-3 weeks, #Colts owner Jim Irsay tells @TheAthletic. https://t.co/pJDoeGZ9CS
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 28, 2023

Indianapolis has played its way into playoff contention in the AFC and entered the week holding onto the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. Their next three weeks feature games against the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The third game on that list, Pittsburgh, could potentially be the most significant given the standings in the AFC and what that game could mean for potential tiebreakers.

Taylor, one of the best running backs in the NFL, missed the first four weeks of the season due to an ankle injury but has gradually worked his way back to being his normal self over the past seven weeks.

The Colts have a very capable running back option in Taylor's absence in Zack Moss, but the team is definitely better when both of them are in the lineup.

They have each rushed for over 400 yards this season and have helped the Colts produce a top-10 scoring offense in the league. Their 24.5 points per game are eighth-best in the NFL.

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