Indianapolis has a plan for Jonathan Taylor entering 2026: get him the ball less. Whether that actually happens is another question.
Jonathan Taylor led the NFL with 323 carries in 2025, the second time in his six-year career he’s topped the league in rushing attempts and the third time he’s cleared 300 carries in a season. That kind of volume is exactly what the Colts are now trying to trim.
“We definitely need to find ways to take some of that workload off him,” running backs coach DeAndre Smith said, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. “If I can find another guy or two that can take some of those carries off, he’s just going to be that much better.”
Smith added that the topic comes up constantly inside the building. “So, it’s definitely been a constant conversation. I’m aware of it. When he’s healthy, we’ve got a chance to win every game. So, that’s always the first thing I think about: making sure he’s available every week.”
Easier Said Than Done
Head coach Shane Steichen isn’t disagreeing with the concept. He’s just being honest about how hard it is to execute. “Obviously, he’s a hell of a player,” Steichen said, per ESPN. “It’s hard to take him off the field when he’s running so good.”
That tension defined Indy’s backfield a year ago. Taylor took 323 of the Colts’ 372 running back carries in 2025 — a staggering 87 percent share. Daniel Jones, who was lost for the year after rupturing his Achilles in Week 14, was second on the team in rush attempts with just 45. Everything else in the ground game belonged to Taylor.
Behind him, the depth chart barely moved the needle. DJ Giddens, a fifth-round pick in 2025, carried the ball 26 times across nine games, the second-most among Colts running backs. That’s the entire cushion Indianapolis had between its starter and a real dropoff.
Who Actually Takes the Carries?
That question hangs over the start of training camp, which opens July 29 in Westfield, Indiana. Giddens enters camp as the presumptive backup. Indianapolis also added Seth McGowan in April’s draft, a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky who will get a chance to push for reps once camp starts.
Neither has done anything at the NFL level to suggest he’s ready to meaningfully cut into Taylor’s workload. That’s the gap the Colts are hoping camp reps close — and if it doesn’t close, Taylor’s carry count likely looks a lot like last year’s, plan or no plan.
| Player | 2025 Carries | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Taylor | 323 | 17 |
| Daniel Jones | 45 | 13 |
| DJ Giddens | 26 | 9 |
Taylor Says He’s Ready Either Way
For his part, Taylor isn’t lobbying for fewer touches. He said he’s “very meticulous” about his offseason preparation, and he sounds fine carrying whatever load the coaching staff decides on.
“Whether it’s a large workload or a minimum workload, I’m prepared and ready to go.”
There’s also a business layer to all of this. Taylor is entering the final season of his three-year contract, and he’s said he wants an extension that keeps him in Indianapolis long-term. A lighter workload that keeps him healthy and productive down the stretch would help both sides — the Colts protect their investment, and Taylor builds a case for a new deal without the wear of a third straight 300-carry season.
