Taylor injury not serious, uncertain return

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Colts RB Jonathan Taylor's latest ankle injury is considered "nothing major." Taylor is scheduled for additional testing, though. "And with the Colts 4-9-1 record, it is uncertain when or if he’ll play again this season," Schefter adds. We should learn more about Taylor's rest-of-season outlook over the next few days. The Colts deployed a 2-man committee backfield without Taylor for most of Saturday's loss to the Vikings, with Zack Moss handling 24 carries and 1 target and Deon Jackson tallying 13 carries and 1 target. Both guys will be low-end fantasy options if Taylor misses more time.

The Colts have named Jim Bob Cooter their new OC. He turned in 3 generally underwhelming seasons as Lions OC from 2016-2018, with finishes of 21st, 13th and 24th in total yards. Cooter then bounced to Jets RBs coach to Eagles "consultant" to Jaguars passing-game coordinator this past year, playing a part in QB Trevor Lawrence's breakout season. Cooter will work under offensive-minded HC Shane Steichen in Indianapolis. Steichen is expected to call plays, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer.

Shane Steichen is set to be named the Colts' HC, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rumors of the move gained steam in the days leading up to the Eagles' Super Bowl loss, and Steichen is flying to Indianapolis on Monday afternoon to finalize the deal. The 37-year-old spent the past 2 seasons as Philadelphia's OC under HC Nick Sirianni, helping the Eagles to 14th- and then 3rd-place finishes in total yards. Prior to that, he spent the 2020 campaign as Chargers OC, leading that team to a 9th-place finish in yards with rookie QB Justin Herbert. With the 4th overall pick of this spring's draft, there's a good chance that Steichen is again working with a rookie signal-caller in 2023. Shoddy QB play left the Colts among the bottom 6th in both points and total yards last year. But they have an elite RB in Jonathan Taylor and a young, developing WR corps led by Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor had arthroscopic surgery recently on his right ankle, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, and it was about more than just the high-ankle sprain that ended his 2022 season. "That thing had a bunch of junk in it from a bunch of years," Rapoport relayed from Taylor on Sunday morning. The RB is reportedly on track to be fully ready ahead of the coming season, and we just might get a healthier Taylor in 2023 than we got at any point in 2022. Taylor should remain in your Round 1 plans for 2023 fantasy football drafts.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) has been placed on IR, officially ending his 2022 season. RB Jordan Wilkins was signed to the active roster in a corresponding move. Wilkins joins Zack Moss and Deon Jackson in Indianapolis' backfield going forward. See where the Colts RBs sit in the initial Week 16 RB Rankings.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He’s still meeting with doctors, but it’s considered highly unlikely that he’ll play again this season," Rapoport adds. Taylor was bothered by right ankle trouble all season and will end up missing 6 games and most of a 7th. Turning just 24 in January, he's an easy bounce-back candidate in 2023. We'll see what the Colts do at QB. Taylor's absence the rest of this season leaves the backfield to Zack Moss and Deon Jackson. Week 16 brings a solid matchup vs. the Chargers, but a bad Indianapolis offense and uncertain workload split will leave both guys as just RB3 or flex plays.