Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard has revealed that he will not be looking to solve the current contract dispute with star running Jonthan Taylor until he returns to full fitness.
Taylor was back with the team this week, but is currently on the sidelines while recovering from an ankle injury which required surgery. Ballard insisted this is the reason why Taylor is not participating in practice, not the uncertainty surrounding the 24-yeard-old's future at the franchise.
"Look, I think the world of Jonathan," Ballard told SiriusXM NFL Radio, per Mike Chappell of CBS/FOX Indy.
"He's been a great Colt, a great player for the Colts. Unfortunately, last year he got hurt early in the season, was dinged up all year, fought through it until he finally got to the point where he had to have this surgery.
"Now, he's finishing his rehab process. Hopefully, as we move forward here, we'll get him back. But we need to get him 100 percent healthy before we do anything."
After contract talks with owner Jim Isray failed to reach a resolution, Taylor requested a trade with him now entering the final year of his rookie deal which will see him earn a base salary of $4.3 million.
With the franchise tag at their disposal, it's no surprise that the Colts want to spend big money on a running back and maybe the fact Taylor was out for six games last season due to the ankle injury has not helped the situation that the team and player find themselves in.
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