INDIANAPOLIS – Jonathan Taylor is eager to return for the Indianapolis Colts’ late-season playoff push, and how he handled his first full-speed practice Thursday likely is the determining factor.
Taylor took part in his first full practice since undergoing surgery on Nov. 29 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. He’s missed the last three games.
“Yeah, first-day full-speed, pads,’’ Taylor said before Thursday’s workout.
He’s been attacking a second rehab this season – he underwent surgery on his right ankle in January – and that’s consisted of work in the training room and with the rehab staff. But everything has been in a controlled setting.
Thursday’s practice was the next necessary step.
“Full speed, you’ve got full velocity on the ball,’’ Taylor said. “You’ve got guys coming after the ball.
“It’s going to be a big day.’’
Taylor seemed confident with his rehab to this point, but “you’ve definitely got to see it full speed at practice.’’
After practicing Thursday and Friday, Taylor and the Colts will determine whether the thumb is sound enough for him to resume his role as feature back. That includes ball security – defenses certainly will test his thumb/hand – and pass protection.
When he plays, Taylor admitted he’ll do so with a brace or some type of wrap on his right hand. He went through practice with gloves on both hands and it was difficult to determine the extent of added support for his right thumb.
He talked with the media with a T-shirt wrapped around his hand.
Taylor’s return would come at an opportune time for the Colts.
They take an 8-6 record into Sunday’s game at Atlanta. They’re tied for first place in the AFC South with Jacksonville and Houston and currently hold the third and final wild-card spot.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,’’ said Taylor. “You would love to start fast, but it’s how you finish and we have a great opportunity to finish really strong.’’
Taylor injured his right thumb in the first half of the Colts’ 27-20 win over Tampa Bay Nov. 26, but still isn’t certain when it happened. He finished with 91 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
“I couldn’t even tell you,’’ he said. “I just came back to the sideline and, ‘Something is not right. This is kind of weird.’ Got checked out by the trainers; thought it was a jam so heavy tape job – heavy tape job – until, of course, you find out at the end of the game what’s really going on.
“You’re like, ‘Sheesh.’’’
Taylor had lost strength in his right hand, making it difficult to grip the football.
“You’ve got power,’’ he said, “but your body won’t let you . . . I’m squeezing, but it’s not giving me anything. I’m like, ‘Dang.’ It’s flimsy almost.’’
Taylor had hoped he could just tape up the thumb and play, but surgery was deemed necessary “once you get the real synopsis.’’
“It sucks when it’s something that seems minor. Of course, it was my dominant hand. Very anxious to get back out there . . . excited. It’s something you love to do.
“I don’t know anybody that wants to get cut open at all. At all.’’
Especially considering he had experienced surgery Jan. 25 to address his ankle injury.
Clearly, it’s been a difficult season for one of the Colts’ offensive cornerstones.
“That’s what I’m saying,’’ Taylor said. “I’m like, ‘I just got cut open. Oh my gosh.’
“I don’t think (thumb surgery) is anything close to the ankle at all, thankfully. So, we’ll go out there and hit it.’’
There’s no question his return would be a boost to the offense. In seven games, Taylor has rushed for 414 yards and four touchdowns and added 137 yards and one TD on 16 receptions.
“It’s massive,’’ said center Ryan Kelly. “And I can’t say enough about him as a guy, too.
“He’s a true great player and a great man.’’
The Colts expressed their commitment to Taylor, 24, when they signed him to a three-year, $42 million extension in October.
Taylor’s return could coincide with Zack Moss, the team’s leading rusher with 764 yards and five TDs, missing Sunday’s game. Moss suffered an injury to his right forearm in last Saturday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and did not practice Thursday.
Despite the absence of Taylor and Moss being forced from the game in the second quarter after being down on a horse-collar tackle at the end of his 16-yard touchdown catch from Gardner Minshew II, the Colts generated 170 rushing yards against the Steelers.
Credit Trey Sermon (88 yards on 17 carries) and Tyler Goodson (69 on 11).
“We’ve got a bunch of horses in the stable and I think that was on full display last week,’’ Taylor said.
Pittman update
The signs seem positive as Michael Pittman Jr. works his way through the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The team’s leading receiver suffered brain trauma in the second quarter of the win over the Steelers when safety Damontae Kazee delivered an illegal hit. Kazee was ejected from the game and suspended by the league for the remainder of the season.
Pittman was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and did not wear a non-contact red jersey. That’s an indication he’s advancing through the concussion protocol.
Before being available for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, Pittman must be cleared by an independent neurologist.
“It’s great to see him doing well and stuff,’’ wideout Alec Pierce said prior to Thursday’s practice. “I’m happy for him.’’
It appears the Colts once again will be without Braden Smith. The starting right tackle did not practice Thursday with a knee injury. He’s missed the last two games with the injury after missing four games earlier in the year with hip and wrist injuries.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.