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[Indianapolis Colts]

Execs, coaches, scouts rank Indianapolis Colts Jonathan Taylor among NFL’s best RBs for 2025

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Jonathan Taylor drops out of the Top 5 but remains in the Top 10.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Indianapolis Colts veteran running back Jonathan Taylor once again cracked the NFL’s top 10 running backs in an annual survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts—at the 7th overall spot:

7. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: unranked

Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 5

Taylor’s dropping two spots from last season is a curious case. He pumped out 1,432 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 despite uneven quarterback play. His speed is still elite. He turned 26 in January. And he’s the first back since Adrian Peterson (2007-11) to produce 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns through his first five NFL seasons.

While his contract dispute in 2023 stalled momentum, he has never underwhelmed when playing a full season.

“He’s underrated,” an AFC executive said. “Highly productive and can wear you down before breaking off a big run.”

Taylor’s 24 games of 100 rushing yards since 2020 trail only Henry’s 37.

Despite missing three games in 2024 due to a high ankle sprain early in the season, Jonathan Taylor returned to form à la his 2021 All-Pro first-team campaign.

In just 13 starts, Taylor totaled 1,567 yards from scrimmage (1,431 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards) and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, 1 receiving).

Taylor missed out on an All-Pro nod but claimed his first Pro Bowl honor since the aforementioned career-high season a few years back. It was the second and only time since his sophomore season in the NFL when Taylor averaged 100+ rushing yards per game.

Staying healthy for at least the majority of this past season is what catapulted Taylor back into the mix of top running backs around the league. Given that each season since his illustrious 2021 season has been marred by contract disputes and injuries, imagining what Taylor could do in a full season is intriguing, to say the least.

Regardless, this collective nod from various executives, coaches, and scouts around the league is well-earned national recognition for the 26-year-old running back who is hungry for another All-Pro award.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...-jonathan-taylor-among-nfls-best-rbs-for-2025

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Three reasons why the Colts will win the AFC South

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Here is how they get the job done.

The AFC south used to run through the Indianapolis Colts. Anyone who wanted it had to pry it from their hands. Sometimes it was so solidified that the crown already belonged to the Colts with a third of the season left. It was pure domination. Nowadays, that couldn’t be farther from the truth as the Colts haven’t won the division since 2014. It has been a horrific drought, but there are few ways the Colts can get back on top in 2025.

Quarterback Play​

Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones needs to step up in a major way for the Colts to have a chance. Whichever quarterback is given the keys, they need to excel. That means Richardson pulling his completion percentage out of the basement and maximizing his athleticism to reach new heights. If Jones is the man, it means a reclamation project akin to what the Vikings witnessed with Sam Darnold. A new situation for Jones could be enough to shine.

Anarumo’s Defense​

New coordinator, who dis? If Lou Anarumo can bring the defensive intensity and deceptiveness that he displayed in his greatest years with the Bengals, the Colts have a chance to be really good on that side of the ball. Deforest Buckner and the line return to strength, while the revamped secondary finds its legs by shutting down receivers and creating turnovers. Punishing quarterbacks and creating short fields for the offense is a recipe for success.

Shane Steichen​

Shane Steichen worked absolute magic with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. It seemed that pairing him with Richardson could be a perfect match. So far, Steichen has looked more equipped to prepare Gardner Minshew for success than Richardson. If he continues to work on finding Richardson opportunities to use his legs and develops his passing ability while creatively using weapons like Josh Downs and Tyler Warren, the offense could click. Steichen flexing his brilliance could be enough to secure several wins by itself.

The ingredients are there for the Colts to end the drought. Ingredients aren’t enough however. They need to be prepared and assembled with correct timing. All of these things need to come together at once to create the ultimate dish. Both sides of the ball need to improve to be at home to start the postseason. It won’t be easy, but follow this outline, and the Colts will be back on top.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7/11/24465485/three-reasons-why-the-colts-will-win-the-afc-south

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

JuJu Brents and fans are hoping he can stay healthy for the Colts in 2025

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Injuries have been the story so far, but there is still time to write the ending.

What is better than a hometown kid playing for the city’s professional team? George Hill did it for the Pacers, and JuJu Brent is doing it for the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Expectations were high for the Warren Central product as the hope was he could be a missing piece to shore up the secondary. Hopes are still high but injuries are causing frustrations for fans and especially Brents. Everyone is wanting 2025 to be a fresh start and the beginning of a healthy stretch.

A healthy stretch would certainly buck a trend that has established itself over Brents’ first two seasons. Brents started his career with a wrist injury which made him miss valuable time as a rookie and later, suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to missed portions of training camp and the start of the season. After missing the first two games to start 2023, Brents flashed some potential. It was looking like the storm had passed. Unfortunately, a quadriceps injury caused him to miss additional action. To top it all off, another hamstring injury occurred in week 18.

It was a brutal start to a career, yet somehow his sophomore season went even worse. It only took a portion of one game to sustain a knee injury that cost him the rest of the season minus week 18. The hand wringing over his future is impossible to avoid, but if Brents can stay healthy he has a wonderful opportunity to earn a starting role opposite Ward. There will be competition, and Chris Ballard has said he openly welcomes just that this year. Any playing time will have to be earned. If Brents can get on and stay on the field, the feeling is he will shine and show why he was a second round pick.

Fans are in JuJu Brent’s corner. Hometown kid or not, watching a young player struggle through injuries makes for a story and player that anyone can get behind. Brents could be the key to things clicking in the secondary. Pairing him with the current slotted starters would make this secondary formidable. With so much time between now and the start of the season, all fans can do is wish Brents good health and good luck.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/7...ing-he-can-stay-healthy-for-the-colts-in-2025