Jonathan Taylor injury status: Will fantasy managers have Colts RB available for Week 8 game vs. Texans?

When the 2024 season began, the Colts were bullish about their prospects with Anthony Richardson as their quarterback and Jonathan Taylor as their running back. The hope was that they would combine to create a formidable partnership, not unlike Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry with the Baltimore Ravens, to take their offense to new heights.

But the NFL is a cruel league, and the best-laid plans can often go to waste as injuries intervene. Such was the case for the Colts when they faced the Steelers on Sept. 29. The quarterback injured his hip during the first quarter and left the game. He did not return until last week's win over the Dolphins.

The running back, meanwhile, was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. Initially thought to be mild, the hope was that he would be back quickly. Instead, he was sidelined for the next four weeks. Indianapolis fans and fantasy football managers are now desperate to know when he will return.

Week 8 update on Colts RB Jonathan Taylor vs. Texans

Jonathan Taylor's injury turned out to be more severe than initially thought, and he has not played since the end of September. The lingering effects of that injury were felt going into Week 8 as he was limited in practice on Wednesday.

However, the outlook changed in the following days when he was listed as a full participant on Thursday and Friday. He did not have a game designation on the final injury report. That means he will be available to play against the Texans.

This is great news for fantasy football managers as in his last game against the Steelers, he had 108 yards from scrimmage and also contributed a touchdown. Last week's victory over the Dolphins without him was scrappy, and the Colts only escaped with a 16-10 win as Miami's offense is also decimated in the absence of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

It is not just fantasy football owners who will hope that Taylor can return and recapture the form from his last outing straight away. Indianapolis is currently 4-3 and sits second behind Houston in the AFC South. The Texans have a 5-2 record and they go against the Colts in Week 8.

If Taylor can inspire his team to a victory in the upcoming game, it will mean that both teams are tied atop their division going into Week 9, which is the halfway point in the season. So far, the running back has 349 yards in four games and four rushing touchdowns. His average is a healthy 4.8 yards per attempt. Beginning in Week 2, he had more than 100 combined yards from scrimmage every game before he got injured.

However, in Week 1, he had the worst performance of his season when he accumulated just 48 yards on the ground in 16 carries. Even though he got a touchdown, it was not enough to prevent the Colts from losing to the Texans. Having been injured for the past four weeks, this is like a new beginning for Taylor and he faces the same opponent. He will be hoping to play better than he did in the opening match.

Fantasy football managers will certainly hope that is the case. The running back has a fantastic record against the Texans, the Week 1 loss notwithstanding. He is now healthy and well-rested, and he will be teaming up with a fit-again Anthony Richardson playing quarterback.

Indianapolis supporters will need them to perform as the divisional lead is on the line. How they do here could determine the narrative for the second half of their 2024 season.