Unbelievably, the Packers head coach signed a 46-year-old key player and owner, despite this being his biggest issue.
Running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts asked for a trade this offseason, but he was not dealt before the 2023 season began.
However, a trade might be discussed later.
Trading Taylor to the Miami Dolphins might still be an “option” once the running back is well and able to play again, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. But despite earlier trade talks between the two teams, “talks are over” between the Colts and the Green Bay Packers.
Christian Watson, a wide receiver, was reportedly desired by Indianapolis during those talks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, the Packers “never considered” making such a move and “quickly shut down any such talk.”
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported in August that the “Colts made wild requests” from the Dolphins, including one for pass-catcher Jaylen Waddle, indicating that Indianapolis clearly wanted a game-changing wide receiver in the Taylor talks.
The fact that that trade—which, like the one involving Watson and the Packers, never materialized—is evidence enough that the NFL believes wide receivers are less replaceable than running backs.
It is not surprising that the Colts are interested in Watson, given that the 2022 second-round draft pick displayed promise in his rookie season with 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven touchdowns.
If Indianapolis had been able to pull off such a trade, the 24-year-old could have extended the field for quarterback Anthony Richardson for many more seasons.
However, it wasn’t, and the question that now arises is what will happen to Taylor.
Despite having an ankle injury that has placed the 2021 All-Pro on the physically unable to perform list, Rapoport stated that the player is “healthy and likely would be able to pass a physical today if one were required.” That implies that when he is cleared to return in Week 5, he will be prepared to do so.
Four games into the season, teams like the Dolphins and others will know a lot more about their own running back situations than they do right now. Maybe there will be an injury or someone surprises everyone and has a great start, which would change the urgency of these conversations.
However, as Rapoport pointed out, “no one has closed the door” in negotiations between Miami and Indianapolis, so there’s still a chance that Taylor, Waddle, and Tyreek Hill will play together in the future.
