Downs is working through a shoulder injury that he suffered in Week 12 against Detroit. The injury forced him to miss the Colts’ Week 13 game with New England, and this past Wednesday was his first practice back.
Some good news, however, is that after being limited on Wednesday, Downs was a full participant on Thursday and Friday.
Downs said after Friday’s practice that whether he plays or not will be a “coach’s decision,” but he feels good.
Throughout the season, even as the Colts’ offense has experienced its ups and downs, Downs has provided a steady, go-to presence in the passing game.
Even with missing three games, he’s been one of the game’s most productive slot receivers, catching 53 passes for 594 yards with four touchdowns.
Also of note for an offense that has struggled to sustain drives, of Downs’ 53 total receptions, 31 have gone for a first down.
Awaiting the Colts’ offense is a stingy Broncos defense, led by their front that has been one of the best units at pressuring opposing quarterbacks, while also limiting ball carriers to only 3.8 yards per rush.
Success for Indianapolis will still begin on the ground, but this is a game where ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said that the Colts tight ends and receivers will need their best performance of the season.
Downs would suffer a shoulder injury in the Colts’ Week 12 loss to Detroit. That following Monday, Ian Rapoport would report that Downs was considered “week to week” moving forward.
After not practicing at all that week, Downs did not play against New England but now has a chance to potentially return in what is essentially a must-win game for the Colts’ against Denver.
Without Downs versus the Patriots, we saw a by-committee approach when it came to filling that slot role. Alec Pierce, Kylen Granson, AD Mitchell, and Michael Pittman all saw their share of snaps lined up inside.
Shane Steichen also used a heavier dose of two tight end sets, which requires only two receivers to be on the field.
All season long, Downs has been a go-to option for the Colts’ passing game and providing needed stability. He’s been one of the most productive slot receivers in football, caching 53-of-74 targets for 594 yards with four touchdowns.
Awaiting the Colts’ offense this week is a stingy Denver defense that, through the air, is giving up only 6.1 yards per pass attempt–the fourth-lowest average this season.
As of now, we still do not know if Downs will be available on Sunday, but obviously, him being back on the practice field is a good step in the right direction.
The Indianapolis Colts aren’t ruling out Josh Downs for their Week 13 matchup but being available will be “tough.”
The Indianapolis Colts aren’t ready to rule out wide receiver Josh Downs for their Week 13 matchup with the New England Patriots, but being available is going to be “tough,” as head coach Shane Steichen put it on Wednesday.
“It’s gonna be tough for him this week,” Steichen said. “Not ruling him out, but it’s gonna be tough.”
Downs sustained a shoulder injury in Sunday’s loss to Detroit late in the game when being tackled to the ground.
While he did return to the game on the next possession, Ian Rapoport would report Monday that Downs is “week to week” and called him a “long shot” for this week’s game—although the injury isn’t expected to be long-term.
All season long, Downs has provided stability to the Colts up and down passing game as a go-to target and has been one of the most productive slot receivers in football
On the year, Downs has caught 72 percent of his 74 targets for 594 yards with four touchdowns.
Without Downs in the lineup during the first two games of the season, we saw a by-committee approach when it came to handling those slot responsibilities, which to some degree, will likely be how the Colts handle a potential absence this time. However, AD Mitchell could be a prime candidate to see the majority of the playing time there.
Awaiting the Colts this week is a Patriots defense that ranks 19th in points per game allowed at just over 23 and 26th in yards per pass attempt at 7.2.
If the Indianapolis Colts are without Josh Downs in Week 13, who will line up at the slot receiver position?
The Indianapolis Colts could very well be without wide receiver Josh Downs in their Week 13 matchup with the New England Patriots due to injury.
If that’s the case, what will the team do at the slot receiver position in his absence?
According to Ian Rapoport on Monday, Downs, who suffered a shoulder injury in the Colts’ Week 12 loss to Detroit, is considered “week to week” at this time and a is a “long-shot” for the upcoming game.
The good news is that the injury doesn’t appear to be long-term.
The Colts were without Downs for the first two games of the season as he worked through a high-ankle sprain. Those two weeks may give us the blueprint for how Indianapolis handles his potential absence this week.
At that time of the year, it was a group effort to make up for not having Downs. In that two-game stretch, Kylen Granson, AD Mitchell, Ashton Dulin, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman all saw regular snaps from the slot.
While I still expect that to be the general plan in Week 13, we could potentially see Mitchell emerge as the more go-to option at this stage of the season.
Mitchell was already used heavily as a slot option in Weeks 1 and 2 and has steadily improved as the season has progressed, which includes having a career game against Buffalo a few weeks back when the team was without Pittman.
Although Mitchell spent most of his college snaps on the boundary, the Colts got him acclimated to the slot during training camp and the preseason when they were without Downs at that time.
In the last four games, Mitchell has 136 receiving yards, catching nine of his 10 targets.
Not having Downs is obviously a huge loss for the offense. He’s been a go-to option in the passing game all season and is one the most productive slot receivers in football.
Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Josh Downs exited the team’s Week 12 matchup vs. Detroit and is questionable to return.
In the early fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Josh Downs exited the game with a shoulder injury.
Update: Josh Downs was back on the field the next offensive possession.
On a designed touch behind the line of scrimmage, as Anthony Richardson tossed the ball to Downs as he streaked across the formation from left to right, Downs turned up field and as he was tackled from behind, it appeared that he went shoulder first into the ground.
Downs would walk-off under his own power and was being examined on the sidelines.
Downs has three receptions for 27 yards in this contest and has been a season-long spark for the Indianapolis offense, emerging as the most consistent target in the passing game.
On the year, Downs has caught 72 percent of his 72 targets for 587 yards with four touchdowns. Among all slot receivers this season, Downs has been one of the most productive in football.
When Downs was out during the Colts’ first two games of the season with an ankle injury, we saw a group effort when it came to lining up in the slot, but AD Mitchell figures to be an important part of the equation if Downs doesn’t return on Sunday.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)
Pro Football Focus highlighted a potential favorable matchup for the Indianapolis Colts’ offense against the Bills in Week 10.
It shouldn’t matter who the opponent is, Josh Downs should always be a major part of the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive gameplan each week.
However, as we look at the Colts’ upcoming game against the Buffalo Bills, in terms of matchup opportunities to potentially capitalize on, Downs from the slot versus the Bills cornerbacks could be a plus matchup.
Despite missing two games with a high-ankle sprain at the start of the season, Downs has been one of the most productive slot receivers in football this season.
He will enter Week 10 ranked fifth in receptions and receiving yards from the slot, he’s second in touchdowns, and is eighth in total YAC.
“He is one of the smartest, cerebral players I’ve ever been around as a young player,” said Shane Steichen on Wednesday. “Knowing coverages, how to attack it, finding the dead spots. And I think he’s only gonna develop and continuing to grow in that area.”
Opposite of Downs will be a Bills’ secondary that, according to Pro Football Focus, ranks 28th in yards allowed to slot receivers.
Josh Downs can exploit Buffalo’s defense’s struggles against the slot
Downs has been one of the most productive slot WRs this season, ranking 5th with 343 receiving yards lined up there. The Bills D ranks 28th in yards allowed to slot receivers, so this could be a plus matchup pic.twitter.com/8KeP1lG5dP
Leading the way in slot snaps for the Bills are safety Cam Lewis and cornerback Taron Johnson. Combined the two have allowed 55 receptions on 66 targets this season at 10.7 yards per catch with three pass breakups and one interception.
In the four games where Joe Flacco has been at quarterback for the Colts, Downs has been a favorite target of his, with 37 targets during that span.
3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Colts in Week 10
The Buffalo Bills will play the Indianapolis Colts on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 10.
The Bills (7-2) are looking to build on a four-game win streak, the latest being a nail-biter against the Miami Dolphins. The Colts (4-5) are on a two-game losing streak, dropping close games to the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.
Buffalo is favored by four points in this one but recent history suggests otherwise. The team hasn’t won in Indianapolis since 1999 when Doug Flutie was under center. They have lost in their last six tries.
When the Bills try to end that streak on Sunday, they’ll be going against a very competitive ball club. All nine of the Colts’ games this year have been decided by one score or less.
The Bills will need to execute their game plan to pick up their eighth win of the year.
With that, here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 10:
Limit big runs from Jonathan Taylor
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Many are now doubting the Bills’ ability to stop the run after they were gashed by Dolphins runners De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. But, even though both averaged over five yards per carry in the game, the Buffalo didn’t allow them to have big runs.
After allowing a run of 20 yards in four of their first six games this year, the Bills haven’t allowed one in their last three games.
Enter Jonathan Taylor. In his one career game vs. the Bills in 2021, he ran for 185 yards and five touchdowns in a Colts blowout win.
After Taylor had a rough outing last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you know he is looking to get back on track. He will most likely get chunks of yards at times, but if the Bills can make sure none slip away for big gains, it will help their chances on the road.
A balanced attack
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The best teams in the NFL are labeled that way because they can attack you in different ways. The Bills are no exception. They have leaned into a balanced approach under offensive coordinator Joe Brady and they have reaped the benefits.
It is no longer quarterback Josh Allen dropping back and trying to create something for the majority of the time. According to FTN Fantasy, the Bills rank seventh in the NFL in rushing DVOA while ranking third in passing. They are elite in both categories.
The Colts’ defense, on the other hand, is lacking in both categories. They rank 28th in passing DVOA and 17th in rushing. The Bills will have opportunities on offense, but tipping your hand and neglecting either the pass or run would make things more difficult than necessary.
Stay close to Josh Downs
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Joe Flacco loves to throw it to slot receiver Josh Downs. In he four games with Flacco under center, here are Downs’ numbers per game:
9.75 targets
7.5 catches
69.25 receiving yards
0.5 touchdowns
In a run-heavy offense for Indy, Downs has been the most targeted wide receiver on a per-game basis, and he has the most receiving yards per game. He also adds an average of 5.0 yards after the catch, per Fantasy Pros.
It would be a big boost if the Bills’ defense could hold Downs to minimal gains after the catch.
He likes to sit underneath in the holes of defenses, with an average depth of target of 6.6 yards. He’ll be a focal point of the Bills coverage in Week 10, and he draws a tough matchup with Taron Johnson in the slot.
The Bills’ front seven has been inconsistent this year in defending the ground game, and they have been under the microscope this week after allowing the Miami Dolphins to run all over them. Running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert each averaged over five yards per carry and combined for 119 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Now, they have Jonathan Taylor to worry about.
Taylor has been one of the best backs in the NFL when healthy since he entered the league. This year he is averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and is 19th in the NFL in rushing yards (502), just ahead of James Cook (496).
The Bills will need execution and effort from their front seven throughout the game to keep Taylor in check. Guys like DaQuan Jones, Ed Oliver, and Greg Rousseau will be counted on to make an impact at the line of scrimmage.
CB Taron Johnson vs. WR Josh Downs
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Slot cornerback Taron Johnson, a second-team All-Pro last year, will be tested by a young up-and-comer in Week 10. Second-year wide receiver Josh Downs operates out of the slot and has quickly gained rapport with quarterback Joe Flacco.
In four games together this year, Downs has averaged 9.75 targets, 7.5 receptions, and 69.25 receiving yards per contest. He has the most catches from Flacco by a decent margin and has been the most-targeted receiver in all four games.
Johnson has a tough task with keeping tabs on Downs and also being ready to head downhill to tackle Taylor in the running game. It’s a tall task but that’s nothing new for one of the best nickel corners in the game.
QB Joe Flacco vs. Bills pass coverage
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We could more widely talk about the playcalling duel between Shane Steichen and Bobby Babich, but let’s zoom in a bit. Flacco vs the Bills’ coverage will be a chess match to watch.
Flacco has been around the block. In his 17th year, he is still proving he can be effective. He has seven touchdowns and two interceptions through four games played, and his 94.5 passer rating ranks 14th in the NFL.
The Bills passing defense struggled against the Dolphins last week as Tua Tagovailoa completed 89% of his passes. The Bills currently rank middle-of-the-pack in passing defense DVOA (15th).
The defense might have a little bit of an easier day if WR Michael Pittman Jr. can’t play due to injury, but what would really help them is having more of a pass rush.
Josh Downs enjoyed his second career 100-yard game on Sunday afternoon, putting himself amongst the NFL’s weekly leaders.
Eight weeks of the 2024 NFL season have already come and gone – and for one former Tar Heel, he’s having quite the “sophomore year.”
Josh Downs, who played at UNC from 2020-2022, is the guy in question. Downs was a 2-time, First Team All-ACC honoree at North Carolina and finished amongst the program leaders in receiving yards.
In the Colts’ 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, in a game that could very well go towards deciding the AFC South, Downs caught four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
What made Downs’ game so special? Besides the fact that it was his second career 100-yard outing, Downs was one of just 16 NFL receivers – in Week 8 – to hit the rare century mark for receiving yards.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBo2xbWRuxE/
If it weren’t for Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, Downs would undoubtedly be the top guy in Indy. Downs is third on the Colts with 351 receiving yards, plus he’s tied with Pierce for a team-best three receiving touchdowns.
There’s a case quickly being made, though, for Downs being one of the NFL’s best young slot receivers.
As a Tar Heel, Downs achieved another rare distinction of reaching 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive seasons (2019 and 2020). Downs did this while catching passes from two different quarterbacks: Nathan Elliot (2018) and Sam Howell (2019).
Indianapolis is no different for Downs, as he’s catching passes from both Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco. In 2023, Gardner Minshew was throwing passes under center for the Colts.
There’s one constant for Downs, regardless of who’s slinging the football: he’s a key part of the future in Indianapolis.
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Josh Downs scored a touchdown and led the Indianapolis Colts in two separate categories on Sunday. He’s also amongst the NFL’s best in one of those categories.
The North Carolina Tar Heels have always had an electric offense on the football field, particularly in recent years.
One former player who played a huge role in that electricity is wide receiver Josh Downs, who’s now in his second year with the Indianapolis Colts. Downs was the Colts’ third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, a selection that is already paying dividends.
On Sunday, Oct. 13 in a 20-17 win against the Tennessee Titans, Downs caught seven passes for 66 yards and Indianapolis’ first touchdown of the game. Downs’ reception and yardage total led all pass-catchers, which is a microcosm with the season he’s been enjoying.
Through six games, Downs leads his Colts teammates with 27 receptions. Downs’ total also ties him for 11th-most amongst NFL receivers, along with the Atlanta Falcons‘ Darnell Mooney and Green Bay Packers‘ Jayden Reed.
Not even two full seasons into his NFL career, Downs has over 1,000 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
What makes Downs’ start to his NFL career even more impressive is that he’s caught passes from three different quarterbacks: fellow 2023 draftee Anthony Richardson, journeyman Gardner Minshew and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco. Having one quarterback allows pass-catchers to develop chemistry and comfortability, but Downs is proving he can produce with anyone.
Downs forms one of the NFL’s best young receiver trios, alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Pittman played his college ball at USC, while Pierce played at Cincinnati.
It’s always great to see Tar Heels thrive at the next level. Downs is the latest example of that.
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