The Colts are not out of the woods yet, despite the positive news about Taylor and Richardson’s health

Week 4 initially looked like a huge loss for the Indianapolis Colts, even though they narrowly overtook the then-undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Their dynamic on-field duo of quarterback Anthony Richardson and quarterback Jonathan Taylor left the contest with injuries. However, the latest information from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero suggests fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Per Pelissaro, Indy “dodged two wounded bullets” in the attack.

Richardson is working “every day” and “has a chance” to prepare for the Colts’ Week 5 clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is dealing with oblique and abdominal strains, but the problems seem minor. Meanwhile, Taylor suffered a sprained upper ankle that is believed to be “mild.” From the sound of it, there’s a chance neither game will lose much time (if any).

While Richardson’s situation is quite simple, Taylor’s is quite complicated. Despite downplaying this issue, the latter struggled with many ankle problems throughout his career. Of note, the All-Pro’s one-time injury injured the same surgically repaired joint, limiting him to 11 games in 2022.

Given Taylor’s issues with his right ankle, the Colts have not yet fully recovered. On Monday, head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that Indianapolis was not considering placing his player on injured reserve. This can usually be considered a good thing. But even the mention of the idea indicates that the former Wisconsin Badger may not be ready to face Jacksonville.

Before going down in the fourth quarter, Taylor had accumulated 108 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 24 touches. As usual, he was the focal point of the Colts’ offensive attack, playing a significant role in their upset victory over the Steelers. He was replaced by Trey Sermon in the third round of the 2021 draft, although his five carries yielded an uninspiring eight yards.

Richardson ended Indy’s 27-24 loss to the Steelers in the first quarter. Shortly thereafter, he attempted to return. However, his first play on the field was a planned quarterback run that sent him to the locker room and was sidelined for the rest of the game. Ultimately, it was Steichen’s surprising decision that put his franchise signal-caller in jeopardy. Fortunately, backup Joe Flacco performed admirably and helped the Colts win.

With the Jags 0-4, could the Colts have been cautious with using one or both of their standout offensive weapons?