Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finally spoke to the media after a long offseason of a trade request and rehabbing from an ankle injury. (video via Jake Arthur)
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> JT, I guess I'll start.
00:11 Do you want to be a coach?
00:12 Have you received your training request?
00:14 And where do you think it's gonna come from?
00:16 >> Number one is first of all, it feels really good to finally be healthy.
00:21 I mean, number one the whole time the main goal was to be healthy.
00:25 Everyone in this whole thing, the main goal was to be healthy.
00:28 To go out there and to be able to do what I love, which is play football.
00:31 So just going through that journey throughout this whole time,
00:35 there's been a lot of things that have been done.
00:38 But at the end of the day, the number one overall goal for
00:41 everybody was for me to get healthy.
00:43 And I think everybody was on the same page with that.
00:45 >> When did you get healthy?
00:46 >> Over the course of this whole off season.
00:49 There's never a specific date, cuz there's always progressions.
00:52 There's always, hey, we gotta break through this wall,
00:54 then we gotta break through that next wall.
00:55 So just being able to maintain that perseverance until you get
00:59 that cheap goal that you want.
01:01 >> Have there been any other issues, sticking points with you besides just
01:04 your injury, or what other factors have come on into how you've operated?
01:08 >> Operated on what?
01:10 >> Well, let me ask you this.
01:12 Has there been any other sticking points for
01:14 you beyond getting on the field other than your injury?
01:18 >> Now, number one thing was me getting healthy.
01:20 I mean, at the end of the day, if you're not healthy,
01:21 you can't be on the field.
01:22 The number one ability is availability.
01:25 And I pride myself on that.
01:26 So especially battling through last year,
01:29 my number one goal was to make sure I eliminated all of that.
01:32 I'm just not a guy that doesn't wanna be on the field and off the field.
01:36 Of course, if you can't go, you can't go.
01:37 But I didn't wanna be the kind of guy where we're dealing with this,
01:41 we're dealing with that.
01:42 I just wanted to make sure I got 100% healthy, and everybody did.
01:45 >> So you wanna get your, from the off season to the game,
01:48 when there were trade requests, whatever.
01:51 How committed are you now to the team?
01:53 I mean, are you here 100% on that?
01:56 >> I don't think it matters if I'm saying I'm committed or not,
02:00 because I'm here.
02:01 I mean, if somebody wasn't committed, they wouldn't be here.
02:03 And right now, I'm here, and my number one goal is to really attack this first
02:09 practice, it's been over 290 days, I believe.
02:13 >> You've got that.
02:14 >> I mean, when you're not doing what you love, you're gonna notice it.
02:18 So it's been over 290 days, so
02:20 my main goal has been to attack this first day.
02:23 Yesterday was a walkthrough, so today is the second first day.
02:27 >> As you say, Chon, there's a lot of things you said and done.
02:31 How do you feel about you and your size?
02:34 If you had to do it all over again,
02:35 would you do everything you've done the same, or would you change anything?
02:38 >> Everything that I've done to get healthy to this point,
02:40 I would do exactly the same.
02:41 I am feeling very, very healthy now.
02:43 And I'm really just trying to really focus and
02:46 make sure that when I step out on that field, you gotta get acclimated.
02:51 The number one thing, everyone knows there's an injury risk when you haven't
02:54 done something like this, a physical sport, for this long.
02:57 And just getting back out there, not even just getting back integrated,
03:03 hearing plays, it's just a feeling of being on the field.
03:06 That's gonna be something that- >> I'm talking about the contractual stuff,
03:10 Chon, the training requests, the contracts, all that stuff.
03:14 Do you like how your side is, and how the Colts side, how are you guys behaving?
03:19 >> I'm not here to get into any contract things.
03:21 Those were over the course of this offseason, but the season is here.
03:25 We got the Tennessee Titans on the clock.
03:27 Division game, division matchup, what are you gonna do?
03:31 Are you gonna boast up and get ready to defend your house, or are you gonna fold?
03:36 So that's a big emphasis for us this week.
03:38 >> Are you still one question, you're a running back, how soon can you play?
03:41 >> That's the question that we don't know.
03:43 Like I said, I haven't had a first practice yet.
03:45 I haven't walked through, so I'm super excited to finally get out there for
03:49 the first time.
03:50 And just see where has all the hard work taken, just day in and day out,
03:54 inching closer and closer every single day.
03:56 >> Chon, you just have two days to figure out what's going on, and
03:59 they probably have questions too.
04:01 What have you told them and tried to explain the situation to them?
04:05 >> I mean, I've been in communication with my teammates the whole time.
04:07 I've been here rehabbing.
04:09 They've been asking me every day, hey, how you feeling?
04:11 I'm telling them, hey, I'm inching closer and closer.
04:13 So the day has finally come now for me to finally hit the field.
04:16 So it's just an awesome feeling when you've been working so
04:20 hard to get to a certain point.
04:22 Now you're finally back doing what you love.
04:23 >> Chon, you said you don't need a pillow.
04:24 >> Nobody understands your body like you do, obviously.
04:27 So can you help us understand how you have a surgery in January, but
04:31 you're not able to get on the field by September?
04:33 >> Really, I think the answer to that question would be if I asked James,
04:37 hey, what's the difference between you and myself getting a surgery?
04:43 Well, it's cuz he got a surgery and I got a surgery.
04:46 So at the end of the day, everyone heals different.
04:48 No surgery is the same.
04:50 And all that matters is can you persevere each and every single day?
04:53 Cuz I'll tell you one thing, rehab is tough.
04:54 So now going through that for the first time, a real surgical rehab,
04:58 I commend those guys who have had some pretty devastating injuries.
05:03 >> JJ, what's it been like?
05:05 Obviously, we haven't heard from you in quite a while.
05:07 What's it been like hearing all these narratives and all these stories and
05:10 rumors and facts and whatnot, having you sit back and taking all this in?
05:13 >> No, it's okay.
05:14 I mean, it's the media's job to speculate and what's going on.
05:19 Only one thing that matters is the people inside of these walls.
05:22 >> Do you still want an extension?
05:23 Do you still want to trade?
05:24 >> What'd you say?
05:26 >> Do you still want an extension and do you still want to trade?
05:29 >> Yeah, I'm not gonna get into any contract stuff.
05:31 This is a big day for me.
05:33 So just being, go back out there and do what I love.
05:37 It's a big day for me.
05:37 So I'm just excited for that.
05:39 I'm actually laser focused on that because it's not a huge day for necessarily.
05:45 I know everybody's excited, teammates, coaches.
05:49 I'm excited.
05:49 I know you guys don't usually see me super excited all the time, but
05:52 I'm really excited when you've been out for something for a while.
05:56 Finally back into the room.
05:57 >> What form of promoting existed, whether you acknowledge it or not?
06:01 How do you feel about just kind of getting to this point, right?
06:04 I mean, we haven't seen you disengaged and so forth, but
06:06 how did you get to this point?
06:08 How did you guys resolve things interpersonally and all that?
06:12 >> Well, the number one thing was just continuing to attack the rehab every
06:15 single day.
06:15 Like I said, the number one goal was to get healthy and
06:17 I believe everybody was on the same page with that.
06:19 So just being able to work in and communication with the organization and
06:25 my squad, just being able to provide any and
06:28 everything that I needed in order to get back out there on the field.
06:30 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> What have you seen of him and
06:35 what you can really get?
06:37 >> I think I really saw someone who was a tough competitor,
06:41 especially this past game.
06:43 I mean, it was kind of all over the place.
06:46 I'm like, my gosh, we can pull this out.
06:50 I'm rooting for guys, let's go, let's make this catch.
06:54 My God, good run.
06:55 But one thing I saw from him was how he had the guys rally around him.
07:00 And that's what you want.
07:01 And as a leader, as a quarterback, that's what you want.
07:05 You wanna be able to have guys rally around you.
07:08 So I was really excited to see that from him.
07:11 I mean, he just turned 21, so I don't know how that feels to him interpersonally.
07:17 Everyone deals with pressure differently, but
07:20 I can't really see too much of it going on this past weekend.
07:22 >> Jonathan, do you want to be a hope?
07:26 Do you wanna be a hope?
07:27 >> Listen, like I said, I'm here right now, and
07:29 my number one thing is to take care of my teammates.
07:33 A lot of people worry about what I want, what I want.
07:35 Doesn't matter what necessarily I want.
07:37 What matters is what this team needs, what this team wants, what this city wants,
07:41 what this city needs.
07:42 What this city needs is a championship.
07:44 And while I'm here, that's what I'm gonna work my tail off to do.
07:47 That's what I work my tail off to get the opportunity to do.
07:51 I think when you've been out for a while, you start looking at it and you say, man,
07:56 when you have that opportunity, and I never took it for granted.
07:59 But even when it's taken away, you still are like, man,
08:03 that was a great opportunity, and I can't wait to have another opportunity.
08:05 So like I said, I never took it for granted at all.
08:09 So you know the help comes first.
08:11 >> Jonathan, this relationship was not in a good place many months ago.
08:15 What has changed coming to today?
08:20 >> Well, I mean the relationship as far as with me-
08:23 >> Well, you asked for a trade,
08:25 you asked for an extension, right?
08:28 And you don't wanna talk about that today, I understand that.
08:31 But what, if anything, has changed in your approach?
08:36 >> The number one thing that changed is that I'm finally able to step back on
08:40 the practice field.
08:41 Like I said, it's a big day.
08:44 It's a huge day just because you got nerves, you're anxious,
08:48 you wanna do well, just you've been working so much.
08:51 And you can simulate as many things as you want, but
08:55 nothing simulates football but playing football.
08:57 So being able to go out there and really, really just test the waters and
09:03 just see everything you did every single day, all the work you put in.
09:08 See where it takes us.
09:09 >> JT, I know you said you're here now.
09:13 What kept you from being around in the previous weeks, practice games,
09:17 things like that?
09:18 >> I've been around, like I said, the number one goal was for
09:20 me to get 100% healthy.
09:22 So I think just being in communication with the training staff and the team and
09:26 getting everyone on the same page in order to make sure that, not only myself, but
09:31 everyone who is injured on the field has everything they completely need in order
09:35 to get back on the field and do what they love.
09:36 >> So you've been out here for how long you've been out in football?
09:40 Do you feel a need to kinda show either the culture, the league,
09:43 that if you are healthy again, you can get back to those 2021 levels?
09:48 >> I don't think it's a matter of showing the coach or other teams or players.
09:53 I think it's about yourself.
09:54 Like I said, you have people directing you and helping you to rehab and get back.
09:59 But you wanna show yourself like, hey,
10:02 I've been working for a long time for this moment.
10:05 So I wanna prove to myself, hey, let's just see all of those days where I thought
10:10 I was gonna get another rep in, but all this muscle is sore.
10:14 You push through it, see where it takes us today.
10:16 >> You know your body, do you feel like that guy who ran for
10:19 18 yards a couple years ago?
10:21 >> Like I said, today, look, you guys are, it's first day, first day today.
10:25 So that's why I told you guys it's a big day today.
10:29 And I'm excited, I can't wait.
10:31 Like I said, a lot of nerves, but I mean, you get nerves every game.
10:34 But the great players learn how to work through it.
10:36 >> John, you look forward to the day with all the spades.
10:38 >> Yes, you may have put out the door.
10:41 >> One of y'all got a question.
10:43 >> Chris, then Dave, and then we'll cut it.
10:45 >> All your teammates have had your back in that locker room.
10:47 What does that kind of support mean from your brotherhood guys?
10:50 >> I mean, it says a lot.
10:51 Whenever your brothers see you down and injured,
10:54 they just want you back on the field.
10:56 First of all, they want you healthy.
10:57 And then once you're healthy, they want you back on the field.
10:59 So just hearing their love and support throughout this whole thing, hey, JT,
11:02 keep grinding every single day.
11:04 We're ready for you.
11:05 Just take care of yourself and make sure you get 100% right.
11:09 So it just shows you the kind of guys we have in the locker room.
11:11 >> What do you wanna say to Coles fans?
11:13 Some of them may feel like you've got a foot out the door and
11:16 you're not here for the long term.
11:18 What do you wanna say to fans?
11:19 >> I've definitely seen some fans, actually, I'm a person too.
11:22 And they show me a lot of love and support.
11:24 So I definitely appreciate that 100%.
11:26 >> All right, thanks guys.