Colts RB Coach on Jonathan Taylor: 'He Looks Great'

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been shelved on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list all season. While on the list, a player isn't permitted to play or practice with the team for at least the first-four weeks of the season.

Taylor is eligible to come off the list and play for the Colts following their game on Sunday against the LA Rams.

Whether he is ready to play, or even wants to play, for the Cols is still up in the air, but running backs coach DeAndre Smith likes what he sees in Taylor according to a report for ESPN's Stephen Holder.

"He looks great. And I can’t wait to actually physically get a chance to work with him, see him move around, see that speed and feel that speed,” Smith told Holder.

"He’s a big dude (5-10, 226) and he’s lean, so, he’s a good-looking football player… And I love the lateral movement. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance here real soon," Smith told Holder on the prospects of working with Taylor.

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In Taylor's absence, Zack Moss has stepped up admirably. He has over 250 yards from scrimmage in his two starts this season.

Having Taylor and Moss as a one-two punch along with the running ability of rookie-quarterback Anthony Richardson is a tantalizing prospect for head coach Shane Steichen.

Moss had 32 touches last week in the Colts overtime victory over the Ravens. As good as he was, that's not sustainable over the course of a full season. Steichen understands the need for more balance.

"He felt good, he felt good," Steichen said this week after Moss's big day. "Shoot, he ran hard – what, 30 carries? He felt good, he feels good today. Looking forward to this weekend with him."

Steichen was asked if Moss could carry a heavy load again.

"We’ll see how that plays out. He’s running hard. As long as he can take it, he can take it. We’ll see how that goes," said Steichen. "DeAndre Smith, our running back coach, does a heck of a job on the sidelines feeling the pulse of him, Trey (Sermon) and (Jake) Funk to see where they’re all at. If he needs a blow, we’ll rotate him and we’ll go from there."

If Taylor returns to the team, and that's a big if, any question of load sharing is answered in the best way possible for the Indianapolis Colts.

However, Moss will have to carry the load again this week as the Colts take on the Rams. ESPN's Gamecast calls the betting line even with the Rams having a 56% chance of winning.

The game will be televised from Lucas Oil Field at 1 p.m. EST on FOX.

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