Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor may be playing his final game with the team this Sunday. Ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, the 2–6 Colts have already started changing their roster by trading away veteran stars Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. Those moves have put Taylor at the center of intense trade speculation.
The Colts host the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. While rumors suggest this could be Taylor’s last appearance for Indianapolis, he told reporters on Thursday that he has not requested a trade.
Jonathan Taylor addresses Colts’ fire sale and trade deadline speculation
Addressing the heavy internet speculation on Thursday, Taylor got brutally honest about the psychological toll of the unresolved rumors.
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Nov 9, 2025; Berlin, Germany; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) is interviewed on the field after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Berlin Game at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“Everybody wants clarity,” Taylor admitted during a locker room interview. “No one wants uncertainty. The past couple weeks, it’s kind of been the same thing, but it won’t be until Tuesday at that time where then you’ll know exactly what’s going on, exactly what the verdict is. You just have to continue to go to work… and then let the chips fall where they may.”
The massive shift inside the locker room started when the front office fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard. Under interim leadership, the Colts lost to the Minnesota Vikings, dropping their record to 2–5.
Shortly after, the team made the rebuild by trading away star guard Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.
The pressure surrounding Taylor intensified after a blowout 42–7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he had just eight carries for 23 yards. While head coach Shane Steichen stated that Taylor’s role will not change this Sunday against Dallas, the light workload led to speculation that the team was protecting its star asset for a trade.
However, his big contract makes a trade complicated for the front office. He is currently playing on a two-year, $44 million extension that carries $39 million in guarantees. According to league insiders, the Colts are demanding a premium, “Christian McCaffrey-style” package of multiple premium draft picks to let their top offensive star go.
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