There’s a continual narrative that working backs don’t topic. That they’re simply replaceable. That they are able to’t have a top class price within the fashionable NFL, which has develop into a passing league. 

That narrative has led a immense contingent of NFL witnesses to grasp the Colts’ positioning of their ongoing assurance standoff with megastar Jonathan Taylor — who has a status business request within the wake of the staff’s reluctance to do business in him an extension — regardless of how messy it’s develop into. There was once additionally a sentiment that the offense brandnew lecturer Shane Steichen is establishing in Indianapolis may resist Taylor’s absence, that quarterback Anthony Richardson’s athleticism and working talent may mitigate the worries of now not having a dominant govern again.  

A minimum of thru one year, that trust is unsuitable. 

Taylor’s stance, and his price, hasn’t ever regarded higher amid his dispute with Indianapolis. 

The Colts fell 31-21 in Sunday’s season opener in opposition to the Jaguars in large part as a result of they couldn’t identify the run. Their working backs (Deon Jackson, Evan Hull, Jake Funk) blended for simply 25 yards on 16 carries, an abysmal 1.5 yards-per-carry mark. Jackson — the govern again with Zack Moss nonetheless recuperating from a damaged arm — had 13 carries for 14 yards, 5 catches for 14 yards and two misplaced fumbles. 

Nowhere was once Taylor’s absence felt greater than in short-yardage statuses. The Colts went 2-of-5 on 3rd and brief (3 yards or fewer for a primary indisposed), together with 0-for-3 on scurry makes an attempt. Additionally they went 0-for-3 on fourth-down makes an attempt. The primary failed conversion was once in the second one quarter, when Richardson was once restrained on a fourth-and-1 sneak within the purple zone. Within the 3rd quarter, on fourth-and-1 on the Jaguars’ 42-yard-line, Jackson took a tone to the precise, and cornerback Tyson Campbell ripped the ball from his seize. Jacksonville recovered it. 

Next with Indianapolis going through a do-or-die on the finish of the sport, going through a fourth-and-goal on the 1-yard wrinkle trailing 31-21 with below a tiny left, the staff alone the run, and a throw by way of spare QB Gardner Minshew — with Richardson sidelined — to Michael Pittman Jr. was once damaged up in any case zone. 

“Give credit to Jacksonville. They’ve got a good front and they played up to that level,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter stated Tuesday. “They made it tough on us. …  They won the battle there a little bit.”

Richardson had harm himself on a scramble two performs previous, a condition that might’ve been have shyed away from with Taylor. His utilization in short-yardage may ruthless fewer hits on Richardson. And the Colts know all too smartly in regards to the utility of shielding your franchise quarterback. Accidents pressured Andrew Good fortune to journey clear of soccer in his top at 29 years worn. 

Thankfully for the Colts, Richardson perceived to keep away from critical trauma on Sunday. He additionally got here up a negligible gimpy then a zone-read snatch within the first quarter. 

“He should be all right,” Steichen stated postgame. 

After all, it’s a long way too early to construct sweeping judgments in regards to the Colts’ run sport. It was once simply Month 1. Their working again play games may fortify. The provision of Moss may exchange all of the outlook, too. Within the utmost 4 weeks of 2022, Moss had 69 carries for 334 yards, the extreme of which ranked 7th amongst all working backs, consistent with TruMedia. 

“We can put our players in better position to have better success,” Cooter stated of the run sport. “But shoot, it’s an NFL season and we’re off and running. Week 1 is going to turn into Week 2. The fronts are going to be different. The techniques are going to be different. The schemes are going to be different both on our side and their side. There’s a ton of improvements and changes. It’s a constantly changing, improving game moving forward from here. We’re really eyes open looking to make sure we know what are we doing well in these games, what are we maybe not doing so well so we can do a little more of what we did well, a little less of what we haven’t and sort of steer the ship the right direction.”

The working again worry is actual, even though. On supremacy of Sunday’s lackluster efficiency, accidents are a subject. 

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Taylor — who had ankle surgical treatment in January — is reportedly akin to returning health-wise, however he should leave out no less than the later 3 video games at the PUP listing. There’s Moss, who might or might not be able to journey Month 2. Hull, a fifth-round rookie out of Northwestern, suffered a knee trauma Sunday and was once put on injured retain Tuesday, knocking him out for a minimum of 4 weeks. Indianapolis completed Month 1 with two wholesome working backs: Jackson and Funk, who was once a practice-squad elevation for the sport. 

The Colts may dive again into the veteran working again marketplace for reinforcements. They reportedly had Kareem Hunt and James Robinson in for visits in the summertime. 

Kenyan Drake, who was once with Indianapolis in coaching camp, may well be significance a decision, too. 

“We’re always evaluating everything,” Steichen stated of the opportunity of signing a tailback this year. “We’re looking through stuff. [General Manager] Chris [Ballard] and his staff do a heck of a job looking through those. We’ll be evaluating all that.”

An analysis of the Colts’ Month 1 efficiency: They want Taylor. 

Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He prior to now labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was once the Titans beat essayist for a day and a part. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to apply Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

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