Jonathan Taylor, the dynamic running back for the Indianapolis Colts, displayed his exceptional skill set on a national stage last Saturday. He had a glorious day, rushing for 244 yards and three touchdowns. According to him, despite those stats, he had an uphill battle on the field. He averaged just 2.9 yards per carry, which was his worst number of the year. This game did an excellent job of highlighting his incredible individual feats. It also brought into focus the challenges his staff experienced in being overmatched against the San Francisco 49ers.
As the season’s gone by, Taylor has continued to impress on a weekly basis, displaying his dazzling talent. He recently passed Hall of Famer Edgerrin James for most rushing touchdowns in franchise history. Regardless, Dukes’ accomplishment certainly adds to his mystique, as Dukes continues to prove that he’s a difference-making playmaker in the NFL. Throughout the course of the year, he was an absolute force, lapping the league in rushing yards with a 219-yard lead. His success in the running game was evidenced by this accomplishment.
The highlight of Taylor’s game came when he sprinted for an impressive 83-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. This touchdown play ignited his stellar three-TD showing. Furthermore, it was his fourth game this season with three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to create big plays deep in the game.
Though these accomplishments should be downplayed, Taylor’s struggles in the 49ers game pointed to some warning signs. He gained just 46 yards on 16 carries in that game, part of a larger pattern of inefficiency. Overall, he’s been quite pedestrian, averaging 3.5 yards per carry this year, good for a tie for 41st among running backs. And perhaps even more shockingly, he ranks 15th in rushing yards. In his defense, he actually rushed for over 1,400 yards in three of his six prior seasons.
Taylor’s performance is filled with impressive statistics, as well as soberingly clear signposts of both strength and opportunity. In fact, through ten games of the 2025 season, he’s rushed for an eye-popping 1,139 yards and 15 touchdowns. That calculates out to a rushing touchdown on 12.6 rushing attempts on average! What jumps out most is his scoring efficiency. He’s second in the NFL with 2.69 yards after contact per attempt.
Taylor has had a stellar season in pretty much every other facet. He’s been unable to get loose for anything longer than a few runs, though. All that has resulted in him only recording seven rushes of ten yards or longer. This average performance puts him tied for 18th among running backs in the category. These are all part of the reason NFL player Ameer Abdullah called Taylor a “sorcerer.” He said with conviction, “He’s one of the best backs I’ve been around at making something out of nothing. This wistful dream captures the spirit of Taylor’s talent for making magic happen in times when it’s obviously impossible to do so.
Taylor later told reporters he regretted how he’d managed his own expectations. He was both proud of what he accomplished and burdened by the close examination that success brings. “It’s such a great problem to have,” he said, laughing, noting how much is now expected of him as one of the leading rushers in the FBS. He added, “You want people to say, ‘Hey, what is going on? Why are you not getting three touchdowns [a game]? Why are you not going for 150 yards?’” This shines a light on the scrutiny athletes are put under when they manage to repeatedly perform at a high level.
Taylor will be key as the Colts establish their offensive game plan. Defenses around the league are beginning to understand just how special they might be. He noted, “If you have a guy who’s going for three touchdowns and 150 yards [every week], you’re going to start tuning in and saying, ‘We can’t let that happen.’” This discovery underscores the difficulty defenses have in trying to guard a player like him.
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