WESTFIELD, Ind. – To open Thursday's night practice, Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon officially announced running back Jonathan Taylor's extension, and the Pro Bowler had a chance to say a few words to the fans himself.
"We appreciate you guys taking the time out of your evening to be here today to watch us put in the time and effort to put a great product on the field for you guys," he said to the crowd. "It's you guys that make Lucas Oil special."
Taylor took time to show appreciation for the fans before the game, and his coach and teammates took time after to show their appreciation for him.
Take a look at the best photos from Thursday as the sun sets on night practice of training camp at Grand Park Sports Campus.
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and Carlie Irsay-Gordon - Owner & CEO
DE Arden Key #98
DE George Gumbs Jr. #52, S Juanyeh Thomas #33, LB West Weeks #47, CB Sauce Gardner #1 and S Jonathan Owens #38
DT Grover Stewart #90
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12
DT Grover Stewart #90 and DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
S Daniel Scott #32
DE Laiatu Latu #97
S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1 and S Camryn Bynum #0
S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Justin Walley #27
LB CJ Allen #53
RB Ameer Abdullah #26 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
DE Caden Curry #55 and G Jalen Farmer #62
DE Mitchell Melton #54 and RB Jordon Vaughn #42
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Tim Smith #93
LB Devin Veresuk #48, DT Tim Smith #93 and DT DeForest Buckner #99
Erin Barill - Director of Sports Medicine and DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Arden Key #98
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Arden Key #98
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0
S Jonathan Owens #38 and LB Jaylon Carlies #57
S A.J. Haulcy #25
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99
LB CJ Allen #53
DT Grover Stewart #90 and DE Arden Key #98
K Spencer Shrader #3 and LS Luke Rhodes #46
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Jonathan Owens #38
QB Daniel Jones #17
LB Jaylon Carlies #57
QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
S Camryn Bynum #0 and S Jonathan Owens #38
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Jonathan Owens #38
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12
S A.J. Haulcy #25
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Tyler Warren #84
S Ben Nikkel #34
TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Daniel Jones #17
S Camryn Bynum #0
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Derrick Nnadi #92
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
QB Daniel Jones #17
G Jalen Farmer #62
DE Jaylahn Tuimoloau #91 and RB Seth McGowan #20
DE Micheal Clemons #72
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Josh Downs #2
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
DT Grover Stewart #90
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
CB Sauce Gardner #1
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, QB Daniel Jones #17 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
QB Daniel Jones #17
TE Tyler Warren #84
S Camryn Bynum #0 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81, WR Alec Pierce #14, WR Eli Pancol #83, Sam Khym Strength & Conditioning Assistant/Performance Therapist, WR Liam Clifford #3, S Ben Nikkel #34, WR Raylen Sharpe #8, WR Sahmir Hagans #11, WR E.J Horton Jr. #10 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
RB Seth McGowan #20
T Bernhard Raimann #79
QB Daniel Jones #17
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and S A.J. Haulcy #25
S A.J. Haulcy #25 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
WR Deion Burks #80
QB Riley Leonard #15 and DT Jerry Tillery #94
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Jalen Farmer #62
CB Cam Taylor-Britt #26
TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Drew Ogletree #85
WR Ashton Dulin #16
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Spencer Shrader #3
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
LB Tahj Chambers #44
S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Justin Walley #27
WR Raylen Sharpe #8
CB Sauce Gardner #1
DT Cam Ball #64 and DE Micheal Clemons #72
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
WR Josh Downs #2, QB Daniel Jones #17 and TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17 and LB Jaylon Carlies #57
QB Daniel Jones #17
DE George Gumbs Jr. #52
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
T Bernhard Raimann #79
S Camryn Bynum #0
WR Deion Burks #80 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
S Camryn Bynum #0, CB Jaylon Jones #40, S Jonathan Owens #38 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37, TE Will Mallory #86 and TE Will Mallory #86
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
LB Devin Veresuk #48
LB Akeem Davis #51
LB Jaylon Carlies #57
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
DE Laiatu Latu #97
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
T Bernhard Raimann #79
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
CTanor Bortolini #60
DT Grover Stewart #90
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Coleman Owen #9
T Blake Freeland #73
LB Bryce Boettcher #50
G Quenton Nelson #56
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Jalen Farmer #62
QB Riley Leonard #15
WR Deion Burks #80
G Jalen Farmer #62 and C Jimmy Morrissey #65
G Jalen Farmer #62 and C Jimmy Morrissey #65
G Jalen Farmer #62
K Spencer Shrader #3
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
TE Carson Towt #45
LS Luke Rhodes #46
G Quenton Nelson #56
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17 and G Quenton Nelson #56
RB Seth McGowan #20
QB Daniel Jones #17
"It means everything," head coach Shane Steichen said of having Taylor for the long term. "The way he prepares, the way he goes about his business, the player that he is; he's so electric."
Taylor's electricity shows year in and year out. He's coming off a season in which he led the league in total touchdowns (20) and rushing touchdowns (18). He also finished third in rushing yards (1,585), thanks in large part to the offensive line.
"Just seeing him run down the field and getting all those yards. I mean, it's great watching him," guard Matt Goncalves said. "Great playing for him, and we have confidence up front blocks for him. So it's been great."
Taylor has spoken time and time again about wanting to be a Colt for life, and the contract extension he signed Thursday guarantees he'll be wreaking havoc from the backfield for years to come.
"It's a commitment not only to myself and my family," Taylor said. "I've always said throughout the years I wanted to be here for the rest of my career. We all had the same common goal."
Already one of the Colts most popular players, after announcing his contract extension, he also announced free beer for all adults in the stands. And in that moment, he became even more popular as fans roared with excitement.
