Team news: Indianapolis Colts | Page 11

Colts’ RBs Nyheim Hines (concussion) and Jonathan Taylor (ankle) both downgraded Sunday to out.

Related players: Deon Jackson, Phillip Lindsay

Deon Jackson out-touched Phillip Lindsay 17-to-14 and ran twice as many routes in W5. Jackson out-snapped Lindsay 58% to 38%. Jackson wasn't particularly productive in college but he has a nice athletic profile per Player Profiler. Jackson wasn't particularly productive in college but he has a nice athletic profile per Player Profiler. Consider Jackson a volume-driven low-end RB2 while Lindsay is a low-end RB3.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has returned to practice today, a good sign for his chances to play Sunday vs. the Jaguars.

Related Players: Deon Jackson, Phillip Lindsay

It is unlikely that the team would be bringing Taylor back in anything other than a full-time workhorse role. He is safe to plug back in lineups, assuming he is a full-go on Friday.

Jonathan Taylor is not practicing.

The tweet went on to say Taylor made an appearance, put his jersey on and was getting work in with a trainer. Taylor didn't play in Week 5, which was a Thursday night game. Most assumed the turnaround was too quick so the fact Taylor's isn't practicing isn't great news. Taylor will likely need to log some sessions before having a chance to play in Week 6.

Colts ruled out Jonathan Taylor for Thursday night’s game in Denver.

Related players: Nyheim Hines, Phillip Lindsay, Deon Jackson

In the end, the turnaround was just too quick. The hope is the extra time off will allow Taylor to play in Week 6, which is an early home game against the Jags. Hines could benefit the most with Taylor out of the lineup. Newly-signed Lindsay could also see some work if he's activated, possibly ahead of Jackson.

Jonathan Taylor watching walkthrough.

Related players: Nyheim Hines, Phillip Lindsay

Other reports said the team just doesn't know right now if Taylor will play. HC Frank Reich said Taylor isn't ready today but added "we'll see" about Thursday. The short week certainly doesn't help Taylor's chances, so this will likely come down to a game-time call. Even if Taylor goes, owners will have to at least think about any kind of snap count. Hines and Lindsay look like they will split the workload if Taylor is out.

If Jonathan Taylor is not able to play, Indianapolis would likely increase the role for Nyheim Hines, who has 17 catches this season but just eight carries for 11 yards as a runner.

The Colts might also turn to veteran running back Phillip Lindsay, who has spent the first four weeks on the practice squad.

“If JT’s not up, Phillip will work into the equation,” Reich said.

Lindsay would be returning home.

Related players: Deon Jackson

There was no mention in the story of Jackson, who would seem like a better choice to get work along with Hines, but the Colts look like they will lean toward the veteran Lindsay for some carries. Jackson is more of a dynasty stash at this point. Lindsay has bounced around the league as of late, and the injury to Taylor isn't expected to keep him out long if he does have to miss time.

Maybe Nathaniel Hackett and company are satisfied with the way the tight ends are playing, but it doesn’t exactly feel like they’ve settled into a good groove rotation-wise yet. That’s likely because they don’t have a guy who can do absolutely everything at a high level — and, to be fair, those guys are rare.

Albert Okwuegbunam isn’t trusted in the run game and one-dimensional tight ends end up not playing very much. Just the nature of the position. He played only one snap against Las Vegas and wasn’t in the game for a single run play against San Francisco. At one point he was tasked with getting his hands on Nick Bosa and… it didn’t go well.

Related players: Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert, Eric Tomlinson, Andrew Beck

The story went on to say Russell Wilson clearly trusts Saubert in the passing game, but he’s very rarely the No. 1 option in a concept. Denver’s not scheming him up the way San Francisco does for George Kittle, Kansas City for Travis Kelce, etc. Tomlinson is primarily a blocking tight end and he’s a physical player, the story added. The best bet of an emerging TE could be Dulcich, who's currently injured but should be back soon. At least in deeper leagues, he may be worth a stash at this point.

Tests on Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor’s ankle were negative, and he has a chance to play Thursday night versus the Broncos.

Related Players: Nyheim Hines, Deon Jackson

Taylor was having a rough go of it on Sunday night, as his 20 carries amounted to 42 yards, and his single reception (three targets) turned into one yard. He ended his day with a fumble, and Nyheim Hines was in for the attempted game-tying drive in the waning minutes of their loss to the Titans. Hines would be the next man up and worthy of a Flex play if Taylor were to miss Thursday Night Football.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor was a full participant at practice today after he missed Wednesday with a toe injury.

Related Players: Nyheim Hines

Wednesday was Taylor's first missed practice since high school, but he was back to normal Thursday ahead of Week 4's bout against the Titans 29th-ranked rush defense.