It’s been a disappointing season for Jonathan Taylor and the Colts so far. When he didn’t finish the game on Sunday things appeared to go from bad to worse, but he actually received good news following his MRI on Monday. Scans on Taylor’s ankle came back negative, meaning there isn’t any significantly ligament damage. This looked like a standard low ankle sprain, not an injury to the high ankle. This is typically quicker to heal and has less of an impact on performance.
The Inside Injuries algorithm has this as a grade 1 (mild) ankle sprain. It comes with a two week Optimal Recovery Time. The Colts have left the door open for Taylor to suit up in week 5, but they have a short week playing on Thursday night. Those extra three days could be very important to get the swelling down in the ankle, so it’s no guarantee Taylor is ready to go. Swelling leads to an increase in pain and reduced mobility. These are important to be able to perform at a high level.
Even though Taylor is a crucial piece in their offense, the Colts should sit Taylor this week. That would give him a good chance to return at close to 100% in week 6. Taylor currently comes with a High Injury Risk and a Below Average HPF (Health Performance Factor – HPF). If he plays he could make the ankle worse, leading to a multi-week absence.
If Taylor sits this week and lets that ankle heal, our algorithm has a pretty promising outlook for him the rest of the season. This offense is only going to get better as Matt Ryan learns this offense (and stops fumbling so much). A healthy Jonathan Taylor will be tough to stop when the chemistry of this offense improves.
Through four games this season Taylor has 81 rushes for 328 yards (4.0 YPC) and one touchdown. The Colts have underperformed so far, posting a 1-2-1 record.
