WESTFIELD — Jonathan Taylor is expected to open training camp on the field with his Colts teammates Wednesday.
Taylor is headed into the final year of the three-year, $42 million extension he signed in 2023, and the ugly negotiations that led to that deal prompted speculation that Indianapolis might be facing another difficult camp with Taylor.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard believes this time will be different.
“Things happen and people always look at the past, thinking it’s going to happen again,” Ballard said. “JT’s in a great spot.”
Taylor wants an extension.
The superstar running back is coming off back-to-back seasons with more than 1,400 yards, and the NFL’s attitude toward older backs has changed after the success of Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia and Derrick Henry in Baltimore.
Taylor struggled in the second half of the 2025 season but for the first 10 games he was a borderline MVP candidate despite playing a position other than quarterback.
“I think I’ve always appreciated him, from the day we drafted him,” Ballard said. “Where Jonathan is so special is when he gets on the second level, he is very difficult to handle.”
A lucrative third contract for Taylor is a real possibility.
“I would definitely love to be a Colt for life,” Taylor said earlier this year. “I think I’ve already expressed that to them throughout the years.”
But the Colts also find themselves at a crossroads. Ballard is headed into the final year of his contract; if Indianapolis does not win, the Colts could be headed for organizational change. A superstar running back might not fit in a rebuild.
Taylor is not the only player in this situation.
Perennial All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson is also headed into the final year of his deal.
“I don’t talk about contracts, never have,” Ballard said. “Just know this: We always are working towards trying to keep our own players here. Quenton Nelson’s a pillar, stands for all the right stuff, and Jonathan Taylor has been an excellent, excellent player for the Colts.”
Ballard said repeatedly Tuesday that his own contract status will not affect his ability to make long-term decisions like signing Nelson or Taylor. “Love to have them long-term,” Ballard said. “We’ll see.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What Colts GM Chris Ballard said about RB Jonathan Taylor and a possible holdout
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
