Jonathan Taylor powered the Indianapolis Colts to a 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in London on Sunday, carrying Indianapolis back to .500 at 2-2 while Washington absorbed another round of damaging injuries.
What changed for the franchise
Taylor rushed for 95 yards and scored multiple touchdowns as the Colts recovered from an uneven start. He took 20 carries against Washington, bringing his season total to an NFL-leading 86, and pushed his career international rushing total to 408 yards, the most in league history.
The Colts leaned heavily on their running back after quarterback Daniel Jones again struggled with turnovers and pressure. Jones lost a fumble on Indianapolis’ second offensive snap and threw an interception in the first half, giving him seven turnovers through four games. With wide receivers Alec Pierce and Keenan Allen unavailable, Jones had trouble finding consistency through the air.
Play-action offered little help. Jones completed four of nine play-action throws for 15 yards, an average of 1.7 yards per attempt that matched the lowest single-game mark of his career with at least five such dropbacks. Three of his four least productive play-action games have come against Washington.
Still, Indianapolis controlled the second half, scoring on four of five possessions after halftime. The Colts have won two straight games and remain in contention near the top of the AFC South, even as their passing game remains a concern.
Taylor also became the first player in NFL history to record multiple international games with more than one touchdown. He previously scored three touchdowns in the Colts’ 2025 game in Berlin.
Washington entered the game without quarterback Jayden Daniels and running back Rachaad White, then lost another key offensive player before kickoff when Terry McLaurin was ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in practice.
Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, starting in Daniels’ place, aggravated an MCL injury after taking a sack in the opening quarter. Seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis replaced him and delivered a volatile performance in his NFL action.
Kaliakmanis threw an interception in Washington territory that set up an Indianapolis touchdown, but he also hit Treylon Burks for a 47-yard score and connected with Dyami Brown for 48 yards on the following drive. He finished 13-of-31 for 91 yards aside from those two explosive completions, with 18.2 percent of his throws traveling at least 20 yards downfield. A nine-yard sack on a blind-side nickel blitz also knocked Washington out of field-goal range.
The Commanders’ ground game could not ease the rookie’s burden. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Austin Ekeler combined for 44 yards on 13 rushing attempts. On defense, Washington lost Charles Omenihu to a groin injury after a stronger first half, and the unit could not contain Taylor and the Colts late.
Indianapolis cornerback Sauce Gardner also endured a difficult afternoon. Acquired from the New York Jets during the 2025 season for two first-round selections, Gardner allowed four catches for 117 yards on five targets, the highest yardage total surrendered in his career. Burks beat him for the 47-yard touchdown, Brown added a 48-yard reception against him, and Gardner later extended a Washington possession with a defensive holding penalty.
For Washington, the result erased much of the momentum created by its upset win over Seattle a week earlier. The Commanders will be hoping Daniels can return soon as the offense works through a growing injury list.
