INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr. is happy his All-Pro running back is back in the fold.

Happy, too, to see a player win in this type of contract-year stand-off.

Jonathan Taylor returned last weekend from a four-game absence to sign a three-year, $42 million contract that ranks third among running backs in average annual value. It ended a two-month stand-off between him and the Colts, who eventually reversed course on their plans to not offer him a contract until after the season.

"Going forward, every player can take a page out of his book," Pittman said. "He stood strong on what he felt that he deserved, and both sides ended up happy."

"Going forward, I think players should model that because it ended up working out."

The Colts drafted Pittman and Taylor mere picks apart in the second round in 2020. Both entered contract years this season but were facing different pressures given their positional value and career arcs.

Taylor was expecting an extension from a Colts team that often rewards players entering their contract year. It came right as the running back market was cratering across the league, to the point where stars like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley took one-year deals just above the franchise tag number of around $10 million.

After general manager Chris Ballard declined to offer Taylor an extension or a promise to not use the franchise tag, the 2021 NFL rushing champion requested a trade and distanced himself from the team until he saw resolution. He sat out four games while on the Physically Unable to Perform List due to an ankle he had surgically repaired seven months prior.

But that resolution came last week, when the Colts reached out to Taylor as he was eligible for a return and started their first negotiation. It ended in $26.5 million guaranteed on a deal that owner Jim Irsay said came "sooner than I think should have happened," but it brought Taylor back into the fold for now and for the future.

MORE: 'Things got off the rails': Colts Jim Irsay on path to Jonathan Taylor's contract extension

"It just goes to show that you've got to fight for it," Pittman said. "He was willing to go the furthest, further than some other backs who -- I don't want to say gave in, but they didn't stand as strong as he did. They were able to come to a common ground, and that's all that anybody wanted.

"He fought for what he deserved, and I'm proud of him."

Pittman is well-versed in what the position has gone through since his father, Michael Pittman Sr., played running back for 11 years until he retired in 2008. In financial terms, it's the opposite of what has happened at wide receiver, where 13 different players currently have average annual salaries of $20 million or more.

They can come even more expensive on the open market, where demand far exceeds supply in a passing league. Two years ago, Christian Kirk was coming off a 982-yard season with the Cardinals that was statistically similar to each of Pittman's past two seasons with the Colts, and he signed a four-year, $72 million deal from the Jaguars.

That's why Pittman hasn't sweated being in a contract year. At least not yet.

"The way I see it is teams take care of their guys. If you're not one of their guys, you're not one of their guys," Pittman said. "I'm just playing day to day and auditioning for 31 teams and just going out there and making a couple plays. I have a commitment to my teammates."

"The best way to get a job is to do good at your current job. ... I'll probably just wait until the offseason to figure that out."

Pittman is focused on trying to have his best season yet for the Colts, which means topping the 1,082 yards and six touchdowns from 2021 and the 925 yards and four touchdowns from last season. This year, he is averaging 59.4 yards per game, which is firmly between his career average (55.0) and career high (63.6).

He was thrilled to get the chance to build a connection with Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick in this year's draft and the most athletic quarterback prospect in NFL history. The two traveled to Miami for an offseason throwing session and also met up in the Indianapolis area for more work on their own.

But he hasn't gotten more than six consecutive quarters with Richardson due to various injuries. Pittman grew concerned in Week 2, and he and Richardson talked about the quarterback's need to protect himself, which means playing differently than the heat-seeking missile that is his No. 1 receiver.

"He was kind of contradicting himself, telling me to protect myself and stop taking hits when he's doing the opposite," Richardson said a couple weeks ago.

But a designed run Sunday ended in Richardson spraining his AC joint, and now he's headed to injured reserve for at least four games. Pittman will play for the foreseeable future with Gardner Minshew, who is his seventh starting quarterback in his four seasons with the team.

"It's been a whirlpool here. Ever since I've been here, it's hard to find consistency," Pittman said.

"I think you can always be better. I think I've put a lot of good stuff on tape. Sometimes it doesn't always find you, but that doesn't mean you're not putting good stuff on tape. There's some plays out there to be made."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Michael Pittman Jr. sees a model in Jonathan Taylor's stand