Colts holding their breath as they await Jonathan Taylor injury update

The news comes as the Colts are hanging on to the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC with a 6-5 record. Indianapolis followed up a three-game skid from Weeks 6-8 with a three-game winning streak from Weeks 9-12 (with a bye in Week 11).

The winning ways have coincided with Taylor taking over as the lead back again.

The 24-year-old was placed on the physically unable to perform list in late August as he held out for a new contract and missed the first four games of the season. He was activated on Oct. 7, and Taylor cashed in on a three-year, $42 million contract extension with the club and made his season debut the next day.

After sharing the backfield with fourth-year pro Zack Moss from Weeks 5-8, the 2021 Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro took control of the starting job in Week 9. Taylor had 23 touches for 69 yards and one touchdown on 45 snaps in a 27-13 win over the Carolina Panthers, while Moss compiled just seven carries for 26 scoreless yards, wasn't targeted for the first time all season and played only 13 snaps.

Moss then had one rushing attempt and played a season-low nine snaps in Week 10 against the New England Patriots, while Taylor posted season highs in carries (23) and offensive snaps (50). Despite the Week 12 injury in Sunday's win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Taylor doubled his season rushing touchdown total from two to four and played 42 snaps, while Moss saw an increase in playing time with 10 touches for 70 yards on 30 snaps. (His most since Week 7.)

The Indy offense is strongest when Taylor is fully healthy, but the Colts should be in decent shape if the Wisconsin product misses time.

Even with the recent cut in offensive snaps, Moss still leads the team in rushing attempts (141), rushing yards (672) and rushing scores (five), among a host of other categories.

Indianapolis lost rookie signal-caller Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury in October, but veteran Gardner Minshew has filled in nicely. The 2019 draft pick has gone 4-3 in seven starts this year with a 63 completion percentage for 1,972 passing yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions for an 81.4 quarterback rating, while adding a career-high three rushing scores.

The remaining schedule doesn't appear too daunting on paper. The Colts' final six opponents have a combined record of 32-35. They face the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday on the road, a team they already beat in Week 5.