Going into the season, no one was sure if Jonathan Taylor would suit up for the Indianapolis Colts at all. But now, it’s looking more and more like the star running back will take the field for the team in 2023.

Taylor, who is currently on the PUP list while he recovers from an ankle injury he suffered late last season, is embroiled in a contract dispute with the Colts. The front office declined to give him a new deal heading into the year, prompting Taylor to request a trade. Indianapolis gave him permission to seek one, but Indy is reportedly maintaining a very high asking price for Taylor, making it unlikely that the club will move him ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

The 24-year-old is eligible to return in Week 5, and Colts head coach Shane Steichen is operating as if he will have Taylor back in two weeks, according to Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star.

Atkins wonders what Taylor’s conditioning will be like, which is a fair question to ask given that he has not seen live game action since last season.

Taylor played in 11 games before getting injured in 2022, rushing for 861 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

The Salem, N.J. native, who played his collegiate football at the University of Wisconsin, was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Taylor made an immediate impact during his rookie campaign, totaling 1,169 yards and 11 scores while logging five yards per attempt.

Then, the following year, Jonathan Taylor broke out in a big way, leading the league in both rushing yards (1,811) and rushing touchdowns (18), posting a robust 5.5 yards per carry in the process. He also added 40 catches for 360 yards and a couple of scores en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.

Indianapolis is 2-1 and will take on the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.