Colts make sneaky move on 12-TD scorer after Jonathan Taylor’s injury

The Indianapolis Colts may be without both pieces of their dynamic duo when they face the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Star linebacker Jonathan Taylor suffered a high ankle sprain during the Colts’ Week 4 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and his status for Week 5 is uncertain. Quarterback Anthony Richardson also missed the game against the Steelers with a hip injury, so Indianapolis may have been without that quarterback element in the running game.

The Colts made a move on Tuesday that suggests Taylor may miss the game with an injury. The team announced that the team has re-signed undrafted rookie free agent running back Trent Pennix to its practice squad to add some running back depth before the end of the week.

Pennix spent this offseason with the Colts after signing with them as an undrafted rookie. According to Stampede Blue’s Luke Schultheis, he was fired in August.

The North Carolina State commit scored 12 touchdowns in five seasons for the Wolfpack, while also playing running back and spending time at tight end.

The Colts running game could be severely affected by the injury to Jonathan Taylor

If Jonathan Taylor is forced to miss the game due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered in Week 4, it would be a major blow to the Colts’ offense and their running game, which has propelled the team to its form so far this season.

Taylor has already had two 100-yard games this season and found the end zone four times. After several injury-riddled seasons, Taylor still looks like one of the best runners in the league, and he has already improved his offensive efficiency in the first month of the season.

If Taylor is forced to leave the game at any time, Trey Sermon will step in and be the No. 1 defender. Sermon has shown flashes throughout his four-year career with multiple teams and has already found the end zone once this season for the Colts. However, he doesn’t have the same running back skills as Taylor, so Shane Steichen and the Colts will see some decline in that regard.

The running game will also suffer if quarterback Anthony Richardson is unable to play, which is likely after he missed Sunday’s game with a hip injury. Richardson is an incredible athlete at his position, and Steichen has become adept at using the quarterback as a running weapon since working with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. If both Taylor and Richardson are unable to play, the Colts may have difficulty moving the ball down the field.