INDIANAPOLIS — It’s largely been a season of personal vindication for Jonathan Taylor.

With one major exception in Denver, the Indianapolis Colts running back has been the best offensive player for his team throughout the year. And he shook off back-to-back injury-marred seasons to return to something very close to his 2021 NFL rushing championship form.

But, though Taylor was named to his second Pro Bowl roster Thursday, it’s been another empty campaign for he and his teammates.

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts (7-9) will finish with a losing record for the second time in three seasons, and they’ll miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

“It sucks because everybody wants to play to be the best,” Taylor said at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. “They want to play to win, and when both of those things don’t happen simultaneously, it’s almost like bittersweet. … (Y)ou may have some individual accolades, but then you realize the one main goal that you want is not in sight right now. So it’s bittersweet.”

Taylor is one of three Colts who will head to the Pro Bowl Games next month, and he’s deserving of the honor. In 13 games this season, Taylor has rushed for 1,254 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

He’s joined on the AFC roster by left guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Zaire Franklin, who will make his first Pro Bowl appearance and leads the NFL with 165 tackles.

It’s the seventh Pro Bowl nod for Nelson in as many seasons since being drafted with the sixth overall pick out of Notre Dame.

He’s largely lived up to Hall of Fame-level expectations. But, like Taylor, Nelson is frustrated by the lack of team success.

He was a part of playoff teams in 2018 and 2020, and he’s been a vocal supporter of 22-year-old quarterback Anthony Richardson.

But the missed opportunities this year, with late-season losses against the Denver Broncos and New York Giants sealing Indianapolis’ fate, have left the standout offensive lineman frustrated.

“It’s definitely tough to process, especially like after the Giants game when we got knocked out and eliminated,” Nelson said. “I just try to do my best every day and can look at myself in the mirror and know that I’m giving it my all.”

The question that will haunt the Colts into an uncertain offseason is why the team consistently falls short in the biggest games.

It’s been a decade since Indianapolis won an AFC South title and four years since it finished a season with a double-digit win total.

The common denominator in three of the past four seasons has been a major late-season defeat in a game that could have turned on a handful of plays.

From Taylor’s unforced fumble before crossing the goal line against the Broncos last month to the failed fourth-and-1 completion from former quarterback Gardner Minshew to backup running back Tyler Goodson in a season-ending loss against the Houston Texans a year ago, the Colts always seem to be one play away.

Nelson was asked about the missing piece Indianapolis needs to put together to get over the hump and stop answering the same questions year after year.

He paused for a long, contemplative moment before offering his evaluation.

“I think we just have to play better complementary football – offense, defense and special teams,” Nelson said. “We all have to be balling out. It can’t be the defense is playing great and then the offense is stalling, or vice versa.

“Like this year, I don’t think we’ve had a game where we’ve won by more than like one score, and in games where I feel like we can pull away, so yeah.”

Nelson trailed off at the conclusion.

Another offseason of rumination awaits.

INJURY REPORT

Richardson (back) again did not practice Thursday and must be considered unlikely to play Sunday.

Cornerback JuJu Brents (knee), wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle), Nelson (ankle) and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) were full participants.

Offensive tackle Walker Little (ankle) did not practice for Jacksonville.

Offensive guard Ezra Cleveland (knee), linebacker Ventrell Miller (ankle) and offensive guard Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder) were limited.

Safety Darnell Savage (concussion) was a full participant.