Colts activate RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) off PUP list ahead of Sunday's game vs. Titans

The next development in the Colts' Jonathan Taylor epic is, for once, an entirely positive one.

Indianapolis activated the All-Pro running back off of the physically unable to perform list Saturday, the team announced, setting the stage for Taylor's return against the Titans following a contentious several months.

A full participant in practice all week, the Colts also announced Taylor's questionable status versus Tennessee was lifted. Indianapolis waived RB Jake Funk in a corresponding move to Taylor's activation.

Taylor was placed on the PUP list upon his arrival to training camp as he continued rehabbing from a January ankle surgery. He then stayed on it through roster cutdown day, which guaranteed he would miss the team's first four games.

Losing a talent like Taylor, the league's 2021 rushing champion, for a quarter of the season would've been a blow in and of itself, but that's the least the RB and Indy have had to contend with.

Against the backdrop of the running back market seeming to crater, Taylor requested a trade at the end of July. He then took several excused absences during the first couple weeks of August, and he finally received permission to seek a trade on Aug. 21.

But a blockbuster never came, the Colts held onto their star runner and waited out his month of time on PUP.

There's always the trade deadline to consider, but Taylor suiting up to play against Tennessee suggests tensions have thawed enough that he could stick with Indy through 2023, the final year of his rookie contract.

The Colts have already exceeded some expectations in his absence, especially in their Week 3 overtime victory over the Ravens. No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson has impressed with 479 passing yards, three touchdowns and one