Downs (shoulder) may not be ready to return after the Colts' Week 14 bye, Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star reports. "I don't know yet," head coach Shane Steichen said Monday. "We'll get more updates as the week goes on and into next week, so we'll see. We'll see where it goes."
Downs suffered a right shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of a Week 12 loss to Detroit, missing a Week 13 win at New England as a result. While he has the bye week to recover, it's not reassuring that Steichen wasn't immediately optimistic about Downs' quick return.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Won't play Sunday
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Head coach Shane Steichen has ruled out Downs (shoulder) for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
With Downs and Ashton Dulin (ankle) both out, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce (foot) and Adonai Mitchell are in line to lead the Colts' Week 13 wideout corps. With the team on bye in Week 14, Downs' next chance to see game action will arrive Dec. 15 against the Broncos.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Missing Thursday's practice
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Downs (shoulder) didn't participate in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
On Wednesday, head coach Shane Steichen told Boyd that it will be "tough" for Downs to play Sunday against the Patriots, and the wideout's absence from practice Thursday supports that notion. Friday's injury report will reveal whether Downs heads into the weekend with any chance to be available versus New England, a context that also applies to fellow wideouts Alec Pierce (foot) and Ashton Dulin (ankle), who both were sidelined Thursday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Sidelined for practice
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Downs (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
Earlier Wednesday, head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged that it will be "tough" for Downs to play Sunday against the Patriots, but at this stage, the Colts aren't ruling him out for the contest, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. If Downs ends up sitting out versus New England, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce (foot) and Adonai Mitchell would headline the Colts' receiving corps.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week-to-week with shoulder injury
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Downs is considered week-to-week after suffering a right shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
While the Colts haven't yet provided an official update on Downs' status, Rapoport relays that the wideout is considered a long shot to play Week 13 against the Patriots. Downs appeared to be in significant pain after his right shoulder was driven into the turf with 11:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, but he was able to check back into the contest for the Colts' final possession. Downs' shoulder injury was evidently more serious than expected after he underwent further evaluation following the game, however. Assuming Downs ends up sitting out against New England, Adonai Mitchell would likely be the top candidate to move into a regular role in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Held to three catches in Week 12
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Downs (shoulder) finished with three receptions for 27 yards on seven targets while playing 29 of the Colts' 55 snaps on offense in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions.
Downs recorded a pair of catches on the Colts' first four plays of the game, but he was mostly quiet for the rest of the day. He didn't notch his third and final reception until the 11:22 mark of the fourth quarter, hurting his right shoulder on the play. Downs did return for the Colts' final possession, so he looks to have avoided a serious injury. That said, it wouldn't be surprising if he appeared on the Colts' Week 13 injury report prior to a matchup with the Patriots next Sunday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Injures shoulder Sunday
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Downs exited Sunday's game against the Lions with a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
Prior to his exit from the contest, Downs caught three of his six targets for 27 yards. In Downs' absence, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierceand Adonai Mitchell are available to pick up snaps at receiver.
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Colts' Josh Downs: WRs to Start
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Downs played well with Anthony Richardson under center in Week 11, and Downs should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 12 against the Lions. Detroit is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and at least one receiver has scored at least 13.6 PPR points against the Lions in every game this season, with nine receivers scoring at least 16.1 PPR points. Downs had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on five targets in Week 11 at the Jets, and he has now scored at least 19.4 PPR points in his past two starts with Richardson. Downs has also scored at least 12.0 PPR points in four games in a row overall.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Leading receiver in Week 11 win
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Downs caught all five of his targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-27 win over the Jets.
Downs continued to work as the top option in Indianapolis' passing game as the Colts went back to Anthony Richardson under center. The second-year wideout led the Colts in receiving yards and scored the team's only touchdown through the air while Richardson provided another two with his legs. Downs has reached 60 receiving yards in six of his last seven games and has a nice opportunity to keep rolling in Week 12 against a Lions defense that has given up plenty of yardage to wide receivers.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Seven catches in loss
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Downs secured seven of 10 targets for 72 yards in the Colts' 30-20 loss to the Bills on Sunday. He also recovered a fumble.
It was a mixed bag of a day for Downs, who led the Colts in receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards. The second-year wideout also recovered an Adonai Mitchell fumble to keep the ball for the Colts, but he dropped a would-be touchdown late in the first quarter that would have erased a 10-3 deficit. Downs does have much better chemistry with Joe Flacco than with Anthony Richardson at the moment, but it remains to be seen if the latter will be getting another shot at the starting job in the near future.
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Colts' Josh Downs: WRs to Start
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Downs just had his first down game in four outings with Joe Flacco in Week 9 at Minnesota with six catches for 60 yards on nine targets for 12 PPR points. Prior to that, Downs had scored at least 15.9 PPR points in the first three games that Flacco appeared, and I like that the Vikings game showed the floor for Downs. He has at least nine targets in every game with Flacco, and I don't expect that to change against the Bills. It's not an easy matchup since Buffalo is No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, but I like Downs as a No. 2 receiver in the majority of leagues with Flacco under center for the Colts.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Returns to practice
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Downs (toe) returned to practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Along with receiver Michael Pittman (back), Downs continues to have his practice reps managed, but his return to Thursday's session has him on track to suit up Sunday against the Vikings. So long as Downs upgrades to full practice participation Thursday and/or Friday, he should approach the Week 9 game without a designation.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Misses another Wednesday session
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Downs (toe) didn't practice Wednesday.
Along with Downs, fellow wideout Michael Pittman (back) was a spectator for practice, but given that neither player was reported to have experienced any setbacks with their respective injuries in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, both receivers' listed absences are presumably a case of workload management. In the Week 8 loss, Downs logged a 70 percent snap share while putting up a 4-109-1 receiving line on nine targets. As long as the wideout is able to fully practice by Friday, he should approach this weekend's game against the Vikings minus an injury designation, just as he did prior to facing Houston. Downs' rest-of-season fantasy outlook should be trending upward, as the Colts named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback going forward while demoting the struggling Anthony Richardson to the No. 2 role.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Leads pass catchers in loss
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Downs secured four of nine targets for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 23-20 loss to the Texans on Sunday. He also recorded 13 rushing yards and returned two punts for 12 yards.
Downs led the Colts with a season-high receiving yardage total, and he was the only Indianapolis pass catcher to record more than 16 yards during another highly inefficient performance by Anthony Richardson. Richardson recorded his third touchdown of the season on a dynamic 69-yard catch late in the first quarter, and he had a 25-yard grab in the final period that was initially ruled a touchdown before being overturned on replay. Downs now has at least 66 receiving yards in five of the last six games, affording him plenty of momentum heading into a tough road matchup against the Vikings next Sunday night.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Back at practice
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Downs (groin/toe) participated in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Both Downs and Michael Pittman (back) were deemed non-participants Wednesday, but both were back for Thursday's session, which bodes well for their availability for Sunday's game against the Texans. The Colts' upcoming injury report will reveal Downs' official participation level Thursday.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Misses Wednesday's practice
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Downs (toe) isn't practicing Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Downs and Michael Pittman (back) have missed some practice time due to their respective injuries in recent weeks, and both watched rom the sideline Wednesday. In Week 7, Downs logged limited practices Thursday and Friday after a missed session Wednesday, then proceeded to suit up for the Colts' 16-10 win over the Dolphins. While Downs' participation will be worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's trip to Houston, Anthony Richardson's inaccuracy under center seems to be a bigger threat than the toe injury to Downs' fantasy outlook.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Just one reception in win
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Downs had just one reception for three yards on three targets in Sunday's win over Miami.
Anthony Richardson struggled in the passing game by going 10 of 24 for just 129 yards, leaving little production for Downs and the Indy wideouts. Downs had 16 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown the prior two weeks with Joe Flacco at quarterback but has had little production with Richardson under center. Downs had just three receptions for 22 yards Week 3 against Chicago in Richardson's other full start with Downs also healthy. Downs looks like a risky fantasy option with Richardson as the starter as a result.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Ready to play Sunday
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Downs (toe) is active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Downs was one of three Colts wideouts listed as questionable heading into the weekend, but he, Michael Pittman (back) and Alec Pierce (shoulder) will all be available to give quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) his full assortment of weapons in the passing game as he returns from a two-game absence. While Richardson missed Weeks 5 and 6 and most of the Week 3 game with the injury, Downs produced a 24-217-2 receiving line on 30 targets while Joe Flacco presided over the offense. In his lone full game with Richardson this season back in Week 3 against the Bears, Downs was much less productive (three catches for 22 yards on five targets).
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Colts' Josh Downs: On track to play Sunday
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Downs (toe) is listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Additionally, Michael Pittman (back) and Alec Pierce (shoulder) are both expected to play after all three Colts wideouts were given designations on Friday's injury report. Anthony Richardson is back under center this week for Indianapolis, capping the floors and ceilings of the wide receiver trio. Downs produced a 3-22-0 line on five targets in his lone game with Richardson under center back in Week 3.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Returns to practice Thursday
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Downs (toe) is participating in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Downs and fellow starting wideout Michael Pittman (back) both missed Wednesday's practice and are back on the field Thursday. During Indianapolis' win over the Titans in Week 6, Downs secured seven of his team-high nine targets for 66 yards and a score, while playing a season-high 80 percent of offensive snaps. He entered the game against Tennessee carrying a 'questionable' designation, and it sounds like Downs will again attempt to play through injury Sunday against Miami. Notably, the Colts anticipate getting quarterback Anthony Richardson back in the starting lineup versus the Dolphins.
