Colts vs. Broncos Thursday NFL injury report, odds: Jonathan Taylor out, spread and total shift by half-point each

The Indianapolis Colts aren't bothering to wait until game day to make a decision on All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing king. The team announced Wednesday that Taylor has already been ruled out for Thursday's game in Denver. Keep in mind that all books are different, but for the most part the Colts had been +3 with a total of 42.5. Those numbers are now +3.5 and 42. The books had largely built into their original numbers that Taylor was unlikely to play.

Taylor suffered a badly twisted ankle late in the Colts' 24-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and did not return to the game. He had held out hope of playing Thursday, but it's just not realistic with an ankle issue in a quick turnaround game.

Rather amazingly, it's the first game Taylor will have missed in both his NFL and college career. He has carried 81 times for 328 yards and a touchdown this season. In the two games in which he was held to fewer than 55 rushing yards, the Colts lost. In the two with more, they are unbeaten (one tie). He opened the season as the betting favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year after finishing second to Cooper Kupp in 2021. Taylor is now a +3500 longer shot. To lead the NFL in rushing again, he's +700.

On Thursday, Indianapolis will use a combination of Nyheim Hines (more of a pass-catching back), Deon Jackson (two carries for minus-3 yards this year) and former Bronco Phillip Lindsay, who is on the practice squad. The SportsLine Projection Model has Hines with 11.6 rushes for 46 yards and 0.23 TDs on Thursday, and Jackson with 10.3 carries for 40 yards and 0.21 TDs. There are no projections Lindsay. Hines is a +600 third-favorite at Caesars to be the game's first TD scorer.

The Colts will be short-handed on defense as well as Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquille Leonard, lineman Tyquan Lewis and safety Julian Blackmon are all out.

Denver is without No. 1 running back Javonte Williams for the rest of the season after Williams tore both his ACL and LCL Sunday. He had 47 carries for 204 yards and zero TDs on the year. He should largely be replaced by Melvin Gordon, who is the +410 favorite to score the game's first TD. Russell Wilson is dealing with a right shoulder injury but will play and said he expected to have "no limitations" on Thursday.

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