The 2-5 Colts are likely underdogs in their next two games before the NFL trade deadline on November 10. The 4-2 Jaguars, hosting the Colts in Jacksonville next Sunday, are likely to beat Indianapolis and the 2-4 Cowboys could do the same the next week in Indy.
It might be that Colts management and ownership is willing to listen to trade offers for star running back Jonathan Taylor next week. A 2-6 start to the season is discouraging and perhaps prompts interest in a rebuild.
Moving on from Taylor could fit a scenario where the front office and ownership wants to unload his reported $44 million deal for 2027 and 2028 and acquire draft capital in a rebuild. After firing general manager Chris Ballard earlier this month, the Colts could encourage a new hire by offering salary cap flexibility and extra future draft choices.
Taylor, 27, is a consensus top five NFL runner. He showed his stuff yesterday at U.S. Bank Stadium when he galloped 38 yards for the Colts’ only touchdown in a 16-10 loss to the 6-0 Vikings. Drafted by the Colts in 2020, Taylor has run for over 1,000 yards in three of the past five seasons.
Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner described the former Wisconsin All-American as right there with the best runners in the league. “Homerun speed. Real patient in the backfield,” he told Sports Headliners yesterday.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers said Taylor, who has a career per carry average of almost five yards, is always in the conversation among the most elite NFL backs, and the defense has to always be mindful of the 5-foot-10, 226-pound runner’s combo of speed and power.
“Yeah, you gotta be (aware),” Rodgers said. “Those type of backs you gotta be prepared (for). They can get one yard, or they can turn around and go 80. Those are the type of backs you have to prepare for at all times.”
Record setting former Gopher running back Darrell Thompson played five seasons in the NFL for the Packers. He was enthused talking about a trade that could bring Taylor to the Vikings.
Then Thompson cautioned about the cost to acquire Taylor. “It would hurt to get him. You’d have to give some things up to get him. I think he’d be a great addition to the team.”
The Vikings plausibly could offer third and sixth round future draft picks for Taylor. The deal might also include a Viking player, and a contingency that if the Purple were to win the NFC playoffs the third rounder flips to a second.
The Vikings would likely have to do some salary cap gymnastics to make Taylor’s contract work. But a lot of voices probably believe throwing an enticing package at the Colts is worth it as the Vikings move toward mid-season on the schedule as the only undefeated team in the NFL.
Week after week Minnesota is superb defensively and outstanding on special teams but mostly sputtering on offense. The Vikings have scored 125 points with 63 of them coming on field goals and extra points from kicker Will Reichard.
The Vikings have struggled with both passing and running. Quarterback Kyler Murray seems to be trending in a positive direction, although he could have been intercepted a couple of times yesterday. The addition of Taylor would bring a home run threat to the running game to complement the game-breaking receiving of wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Taylor’s presence would also be a relief for almost 32-year-old Aaron Jones Sr. who could move into a relief role. The Colts didn’t hammer away using Taylor for every possession yesterday and a one-two package of him and the hard running Jones would benefit them and the team.
The attention defenses need to give Taylor will also complement Murray and the passing game. His acquisition could bring a balance and threat to the offense that’s not in place now.
Who knows? The elusive Murray might even execute a QB pass-run option on the perimeter with Taylor. Either one could take the ball to the end zone.
So, the message to Vikings fans is to expand your scoreboard watching in the days ahead to track the Colts.
Worth Noting
Before the trade deadline the Vikings might search for defensive line and safety help.
It would be a surprise, but the Vikings could part with fourth-year receiver Jordan Addison who will be due a big salary bump next year after finishing out his rookie contract. Wide receiver is often the easiest position for any team to find immediate help in the draft.
Turner, who is tied for third among NFL sacks leaders in his third season, is fulfilling the potential forecast for him when the Vikings selected him at No. 17 in the first round of the 2024 draft. He told Sports Headliners learning from experience has been so important.
“It is a very big factor. You know what to see. Know what to expect and correct and move on from.”
Skol stat: the Vikings have given up a total of three points in the fourth quarter.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Vikings blitzed on 85.2% of the Colts’ drop backs yesterday, and that is the highest blitz rate by any defense in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).
After yesterday the Vikings are now the third team in the past 20 seasons to allow 13-or-fewer points and 225-or-fewer yards in three consecutive games within a single season. The others are the 2019 49ers and 2009 Jets.
Vikings safety Harrison is an avid golfer and curious about the new Tepetonka Club near Bird Island.
Radio play-by-play voice Paul Allen, who called his 500th Vikings game yesterday, said on KFAN before kickoff his favorite was the 2009 game against the 49ers in the Metrodome when quarterback Brett Favre’s closing seconds touchdown pass to newly acquired Greg Lewis rallied Minnesota to a 27-24 win.
The Golden Gophers won back Floyd of Rosedale from Iowa on Saturday for the first time in Minneapolis since 2014. But there was no appearance by Gopher players yesterday at the Vikings game. After the unexpected win over Michigan and capturing the Little Brown Jug (first in Minneapolis since 1977) on October 10, a group of players made a cameo the next day at the Vikings-Bucs home game.
Minnesota’s Luke Drzewiecki is the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference announced today. He was two-for-two on field goals, making his first from 31 yards and then a walk-off 46-yarder as Minnesota beat No. 15 Iowa 13-10.
The announced attendance of 53,004 Saturday was the seventh largest crowd in Huntington Bank Stadium history. The stadium, which opened in 2009, has an official capacity of 50,805.
Of the five remaining opponents on the 5-2 Gophers schedule, four are ranked in the AP top 25, with Penn State being the outlier. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck calls the slate the most difficult in the nation.
Preston Nelson, Champlin Park running back and son of Minnesota TV and radio sports journalist Eric Nelson, is drawing interest from colleges including Northern Iowa. He is a breakaway back and has posted a nearly 4.0 GPA.
Former Twins star Torii Hunter has no MLB managerial experience but reportedly is interested in the Angels opening. Hunter, who also played for the Angels and is a club consultant, played for Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire and Paul Molitor in Minneapolis.
Here’s one writer’s opinion on the four best Twins managers in franchise history: Kelly, Billy Martin, Molitor and Derek Shelton (admittedly an impressive but small sample size of only one season).
Reserve guard Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 15 points coming off the bench last night, making five of six shots, including three-for-three on three pointers. After three games for the undefeated Timberwolves he is averaging 12.7 points per game. In his two previous seasons with Minnesota he averaged 5.6 and 4.3 (rookie year).
“I feel like the game’s slowing down for me more, paying closer attention to the scouting report, just being locked in, getting more into the ball…,” Shannon said.