Tag: Josh Downs

Before the 2024 NFL season began, ESPN’s Seth Walder made a bold prediction for each team, including the Indianapolis Colts.

Now roughly one-third of the way through the season, Walder has gone back and either revised those predictions if needed or determined that he’s going to ride out the rest of the season with his original prediction.

For the Colts, Walder came into the season predicting that Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu would combine for 20-plus sacks this season. However, with Paye missing time, the two are currently at just 1.5 sacks.

So Walder is scrapping that one and moving on to something new.

Now Walder’s bold prediction for the Colts is that Josh Downs will have 1,000 receiving yards even with missing the first two games of the season.

Here is a snippet of what Walder had to say:

“Downs had a large enough sample to debut on the Receiver Scores leaderboard this week, and he came in with an 82 open score after having 26 targets in three games.”

Over the last two games in particular, Downs has been a go-to target for Joe Flacco. In that stretch, he’s been targeted 21 times, catching 17 of those passes for 151 yards and a touchdown–leading the team in both targets and receptions.

On the season, Downs has 173 receiving yards. To get to the 1,000 yard mark, he has to average 69 receiving yards per game for the rest of the year. A very doable number.

Downs is currently on the Colts’ injury report ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday as he works through a toe injury.

Indianapolis Colts’ second-year receiver Josh Downs will make his 2024 debut against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

After being sidelined with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered back on August 7th, Downs was a full participant in all three practices this week and does not have an injury designation.

The return of Downs to the offense will provide some much-needed stability for the Colts short to intermediate passing game–an area that has been lacking in consistency through the first two games.

The Colts’ ability to move the ball has been very boom or bust. Either Anthony Richardson has connected on a big play or there’s been little success in moving the ball. Not helping things is the inconsistent play from the receivers who have been on the field.

Indianapolis has been getting crushed in the time of possession battle. In part, that’s because their defense can’t stop the run, but also contributing is the offense’s inability to sustain drives.

Downs is coming off a very good rookie season and one that GM Chris Ballard believes flew under the radar. Downs caught 72 percent of his passes for 771 yards–the second-most on the team–and two scores.

Among all wide receivers, he totaled the seventh-most yards from the slot. Downs also led the Colts in missed tackles and average YAC, along with picking up 30 first downs and having 10 receptions of 20-plus yards.

As good as that first season was, oftentimes it is in a player’s second year where they make the biggest developmental leap. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including the familiarity of being in the same system for a full year and the added comfort a year of experience at the NFL level can provide.

Prior to Downs’ injury, he appeared poised to make that big jump. Downs quickly emerged as a go-to target of Richardson’s in the early training camp practices, with the two having developed a very strong rapport, despite not having a ton of live reps together.

This week, the Colts will be up against a Bears defense that has done well at eliminating the explosive pass play. Moving the ball and putting up points likely has to come from sustaining drives.

Coming into the season, it was known that Richardson was going to go through growing pains as he gained more experience. But the thought was that there was enough help around him so that he wouldn’t have to routinely shoulder the workload.

However, that hasn’t been the case through two games. Getting Downs back in the mix should provide a massive boost for Richardson and the offense.

If it’s up to wide receiver Josh Downs, he is going to be on the football field this Sunday for the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

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Downs has been sidelined with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered during training camp back on August 7th.

Downs did not practice in the week leading up to the Colts’ regular season opener against the Houston Texans. He did, however, return to the practice field last week all three days. On Wednesday and Thursday he was limited, and then on Friday he was a full participant.

As of Sunday morning, prior to the Colts game versus Green Bay, Ian Rapoport reported that Downs had a 50-50 chance of playing at that time. Instead, the Colts opted to give him at least another week to make sure his ankle was good to go.

For about the last week, all signs have been pointing to Downs return being soon. In addition to the report from Rapoport. Downs told The Athletic’s James Boyd last week that he felt he was about “80-90%.” Downs added that the key to him returning would be feeling that he is strong enough the play to his ability without having to worry about his ankle.

For a Colts’ passing game that has struggled to find any sort of consistency, the return of Downs would be a massive boost, providing quarterback Anthony Richardson with a uber-reliable target on those short to intermediate routes. Outside of capitalizing on some big play opportunities, the Colts have struggled to sustain drives through the first two games.

Downs is coming off an impressive rookie season where he caught over 70 percent of his targets and totaled 771 yards. Prior to his injury, he was off to a fast start in training camp, having built a strong rapport with Richardson.

It’s been reported that the Indianapolis Colts will be without wide receiver Josh Downs for their Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, according to Ian Rapoport.

As of Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport reported that it was “50-50” as to whether or not Downs would play.

Downs has been working through a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in practice during early August. He missed the Colts’ Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans.

He did return to practice this week and was a full participant on Friday after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but in what is a long NFL season, the Colts are remaining cautious.

Downs told James Boyd of The Athletic this past week that the key to him playing was being able to run and cut without thinking about his ankle.

Last week without Downs, the Colts took a by-committee approach to fill the void, with several different players taking slot snaps.

It’s a more difficult task without Downs, who is coming off an impressive rookie season in 2023 and was a go-to target of Anthony Richardson’s in training camp, but the Colts will have to find added consistency in the passing game this week, particularly on the short to intermediate routes, where Downs makes his greatest impact.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers. As of Sunday morning, Downs is considered to be “50-50” in whether or not he plays today, according to Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport added that while Downs was a full participant in Friday’s practice, high-ankle sprains can linger and the Colts want to be sure there are no issues before he plays.

Downs suffered the high-ankle sprain back on August 7th during a training camp practice. He was inactive during the Colts Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans but did return to practice this week.

As already mentioned, Downs was a full-participant on Friday, and was limited at practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Downs is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he was one of the more productive receivers in football from the slot, totaling 771 yards, along with two scores.

Prior to the injury he appeared poised to make a big jump in his second season as he was off to a fast start in training camp. A strong rapport with Anthony Richardson had made Downs a favorite target this summer.

While the Colts were able to hit on some big plays last week, there were general ups and downs in the passing game overall. Getting Downs back on the field will provide the Colts offense with another reliable presence on those short to intermediate routes.

Some very good news for the Indianapolis Colts. Prior to Wednesday’s practicing beginning, head coach Shane Steichen announced that wide receiver Josh Downs will be back on the practice field.

Steichen added that in his first practice back, Downs will be limited, but it’s a good sign nonetheless.

Downs suffered a high ankle sprain back on August 7th, and it was initially reported by Ian Rapoport that Downs was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, although the Colts never provided a timeline.

Downs did not practice last week but was seen working out off the side and said he felt good about where he was at.

Without Downs, the Colts relied on a by-committee approach when it came to slot duties in their Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans, with a handful of different players all seeing snaps lined up inside.

Prior to the training camp injury, Downs was putting together an impressive summer, sparked by a strong rapport with quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Downs is coming off a rookie season where he caught over 70 percent of his targets for 771 yards and was one of the more impactful slot receivers in football, ranking top 10 in yards.

While the Colts’ offense was able to generate some big plays in the passing game this past Sunday, there was an overall consistency that was lacking with a very boom-or-bust play style. Getting Downs back in the mix will provide some added stability and playmaking to the passing game.