Jonathan Taylor, the gifted young Colts running back, has pulled off an equally remarkable comeback. He is absolutely killing it through the first four weeks of the 2025 NFL season. After an equally impressive season where he amassed over 1,431 rushing yards, Taylor has pulled the spotlight back on himself. All of a sudden, he’s the NFL rushing leader in both yards and touchdowns. With 7 touchdowns already this season, he’s made himself one of the most amazing playmakers in all of sport.
In Week 3, Swift finally gave fans a glimpse of his home-run power and playmaking ability. He pulled off a dazzling 46-yard touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans. This play was one of many examples on display during the game of his awe-inspiring athleticism. It helped a lot of people view him as the league’s top running back’s toughest challenger for the honor.
To put his current performance in rare air, Robinson is averaging an impressive 5.0 yards per carry. And we all see Taylor’s tackle-breaking ability — he leads the NFL with 324 yards after contact. He has already made 15 explosive runs of ten-plus yards. This achievement cements his reputation as a game-changing player between the lines.
Taylor’s achievements are reminiscent of his record-setting 2021 season when he led the league with a franchise-record 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. More than just a bruiser on the ground, he was as impactful as a receiver during that season—with 40 receptions. He’s averaged just 21 receptions over the past three seasons. Taylor has shot out of the cannon in 2023, with 20 receptions through only six games. If he keeps this pace, he’s on track for 56 grabs on the year in a full 17-game season.
His versatility continued to shine when he got out in space and made this 43-yard catch and run this year. This increase in usage as a pass catcher is a testament to his development and versatility since being drafted into the league.
Even with all of these responsibilities, Taylor continues to look for ways to get better as an artist and sharpen his craft. He lists patience as the key component that makes his game pop, saying, “Just trying to be a little bit more patient.” He elaborates on this philosophy by noting that “there are a lot of moving parts to a play,” indicating that understanding the dynamics of each play is crucial for success.
Taylor’s teammates have raved about his unparalleled qualities. Offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini said one of the great things about Taylor is if there’s nothing there, he makes his own play. “You’re counting on J.T. to make a guy miss, but I have the utmost confidence that he’s going to,” he said. It’s an electric sight,” Bortolini added on getting to see Taylor’s ability to create yards out of tough situations.
His own teammate, Michael Pittman Jr., raved about Taylor’s surprising talent. I don’t think any of us truly know what he’s able to do.” He added that Sooner fans should be excited. This sentiment captures the buzz about Taylor’s upside as he gears up for his fourth full season as an elite performer.
As Taylor heads down the stretch in the season, there’s a balance to be struck between continuing to play like he has, while relying on his teammates more. He highlights the need for collaboration on the field: “It’s about understanding you have to stay patient and sometimes you’ve got to run through the smoke. In other words, it may not look like something’s there, but you just trust your team, trust the guys up front.” This trust and confidence in his offensive line are paramount to his success as he reads and reacts to defenses.
Taylor’s play recognition and ability to adjust on the fly has turned into a signature of his game. He understands that taking every opportunity can be tempting but stresses the importance of restraint: “A lot of times, especially backs, they see daylight and they think, ‘Oh, let me go and take this right now,’ when actually they don’t know, maybe there’s a safety rolling down. He’s just not there yet.” He calls this temptation “eye candy,” warning against the lure of shiny new options that might solve big problems but create new challenges with unexpected consequences.
Jonathan Taylor is proving to one and all that he deserves to be among the crème de la crème when it comes to NFL running backs today. His incredible numbers and games of 2025 shine exceptionally bright. His combination of speed, strength, and receiving ability is making him truly special compared to his peers.
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