Downs brought in seven of nine targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 20-17 win over the Titans on Sunday. He also returned four punts for 67 yards.
Downs' reception, yardage and target totals all set the pace for the Colts on the afternoon, and the second-year wideout also opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown grab to cap off the opening possession of the contest. Downs has at least seven catches and Sunday's yardage total in three consecutive games, and he should finally have a chance to play a full game with Anthony Richardson (oblique) in 2024 during a Week 7 home battle against the Dolphins.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Good to go Sunday
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Downs (toe) is active for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Indianapolis will have both of its top two wideouts available for Week 6, as Downs and Michael Pittman (back) are slated to play despite carrying questionable tags into the weekend. Downs missed a pair of practices to begin Week 6 prep, but since he finished with a full practice Friday, he shouldn't be subject to any restrictions with his snaps Sunday. For the second week in a row, Downs will be working with Joe Flacco at quarterback, as Anthony Richardson will get another game off while he continues to manage an oblique injury. While Flacco was under center for last week's loss to Jacksonville, Downs reeled in nine of his season-high 12 targets for 69 yards.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Expected to suit up Week 6
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Downs (toe) is listed as questionable but is likely to play in Sunday's contest against the Titans, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Downs missed the first two practices of the week due to the toe injury, but he was able to return to a full practice session Friday. Though he'll take a designation into Sunday, the expectation is that the wideout will be cleared when Indianapolis releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Fellow wide receiver Michael Pittman (back) is also listed as questionable, but Holder relays that his chances of suiting up "seem good," and quarterback Anthony Richardson is also looking likely to play despite being listed as questionable after sitting out Week 5. It's worth noting, however, that Downs tallied only three catches for 22 yards with Richardson at the helm Week 3 versus Chicago, while he recorded a 17-151-1 line between the previous two games with Joe Flacco under center for most of Week 4 and all of Week 5. Flacco is likely to return to a backup role Sunday if Richardson is active.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Questionable for Week 6
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Downs (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tennessee.
After suffering a toe injury this past Sunday in Jacksonville, Downs wasn't able to practice Wednesday or Thursday, but he returned Friday as a full participant, setting himself up to be available this weekend. Downs, fellow WR Michael Pittman (back) and QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) are questionable for Sunday's contest, and the statuses of the trio will be clarified about 90 minutes before a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Back at practice
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Downs (toe) participated in Friday's practice, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Per Holder, Downs appeared to be moving around well, which offers hope that the wideout could play Sunday against the Titans. Friday's upcoming injury report will clarify the game statuses of both Downs and Michael Pittman (back), who also was present for Friday's session, per Holder.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Downs (toe) didn't practice Thursday.
Downs didn't practice Wednesday, either, so what he's able to do Friday will be telling with regard to his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Titans. With Michael Pittman (back) reportedly a candidate to miss multiple games, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell are currently the Colts' top healthy wideout options ahead of Week 6 action.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Not spotted Thursday
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Downs (toe) is not present at the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Downs and Michael Pittman (back) are both absent from a second consecutive practice, casting doubt on the availability of both wideouts for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Titans. Friday's practice will represent the final chance for both Downs and Pittman to upgrade their activity levels ahead of Week 6 action. Downs is dealing with a toe injury sustained during Indianapolis' loss to Jacksonville in Week 5, a game in which he secured nine of 12 targets for 69 yards.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Absent Wednesday, as is Pittman
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Downs (toe) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.
Downs picked up the toe injury in the Colts' Week 5 loss to Jacksonville, and it kept him off the practice field Wednesday. Michael Pittman (back) also didn't practice Wednesday. Both starting wide receivers will have two more opportunities to practice before the Colts issue their final Week 6 injury report ahead of Sunday's road game in Tennessee.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 6 Adds (WR Preview)
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We'll like Downs more if Flacco is the starter, but he's our favorite Colts wide receiver regardless. He has seen a team-high 28.6% target share since he debuted in Week 3, and he leads the Colts pass catchers with 14.4 PPR FPPG. He's a must-start with Flacco and a good number-three receiver with Richardson.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Team-high catch total in loss
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Downs secured nine of 12 targets for 69 yards in the Colts' 37-34 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. He also returned one punt for 11 yards.
Downs' reception and target totals both set the pace for the Colts, but the second-year receiver was limited to a short-area role in the high-scoring loss. Nevertheless, Downs continued to demonstrate excellent chemistry with fill-in starter Joe Flacco after also posting an 8-82-1 line while working with the veteran signal-caller the majority of the game in Week 4. Downs is clearly set to see an integral role throughout the campaign, and his fantasy stock is surging heading into a Week 6 divisional road matchup against the Titans.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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Downs is clearly the No. 2 receiver for the Colts, and he would benefit tremendously if Joe Flacco starts in place of Anthony Richardson (hip) in Week 5 at Jacksonville. Downs just had eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in Week 4 against Pittsburgh in the game where Richardson was injured. But even when Richardson is healthy, he should also continue to lean on Downs, and he has the potential to be a No. 3 PPR receiver, especially now during the bye weeks. Downs is worth adding for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Big day against Steelers
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Downs recorded eight receptions on nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Steelers.
Downs was on the field for 51 percent of offensive snaps in Week 3 -- his season debut-- but he appeared fully up to speed against Pittsburgh seven days later. He matched Michael Pittman in targets and led the team in receptions while working primarily in short areas of the field and as an effective chain-moving presence. However, he also showed plenty of playmaking ability, highlighted by a four-yard touchdown late in the first quarter and a 25-yard catch and run to help set up an additional score later in the third quarter. Downs' skills likely mesh better with Joe Flacco as opposed to Anthony Richardson (hip), though he's gained a foothold in the Colts' offense and should have the chance to be productive regardless of who is under center.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Three catches in season debut
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Downs caught three of five targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Bears.
Making his 2024 debut after recovering from an ankle injury, Downs tied Michael Pittman for the team led in targets but didn't net much yardage, as Anthony Richardson continues to struggle with his accuracy on shorter routes. Downs' volume was at least encouraging, but he faces a tough test in Week 4 against the Steelers.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Cleared to play vs. Bears
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Downs (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Downs participated without limitations in all three of Indianapolis' practices this week, setting the stage for the wide receiver to make his season debut. Michael Pittman (back/calf) is questionable, but Downs' return could lead to decreased playing time for rookie Adonai Mitchell, as Alec Pierce has probably cemented his spot in three-receiver sets with 181 receiving yards and two touchdowns through two games. Downs finished second to Pittman (1,152) with 771 receiving yards for the Colts last season.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Practices in full, poised to play
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Downs (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday and appears set to suit up Sunday versus Chicago.
Downs said earlier Wednesday that he intends to make his 2024 debut versus the Bears, and his ability to handle a full allotment of practice reps to begin Week 3 prep seemingly confirms as much. The 2023 third-round pick had been sidelined due to a high-ankle sprain since early August, but he was close to returning Week 2. Now healthy, Downs will mix in with Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell in a Colts wide receiver corps led by Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Plans to play vs. Chicago
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Downs (ankle) said Wednesday he intends to suit up for Sunday's game against the Bears, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Downs appears to be nearly recovered from the left high-ankle sprain he sustained Aug. 7. He was reportedly had a 50-50 chance of being able to play Week 2 against the Packers, but was ultimately made inactive. The 2023 third-round pick resumed practicing in full prior to being ruled out versus Green Bay, so he could be ready to immediately handle his usual assortment of reps alongside Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell, while working behind top wide receiver Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Inactive against Green Bay
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Downs (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game at Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Downs is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain that he sustained Aug. 7. Downs had a good week of practice as he went from limited early in the week to full practice on Friday. However, the Colts are likely being cautious with his return. He may be able to make his 2024 debut next week against Chicago. Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell will continue to see ample snaps alongside No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman with Downs out.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Viewed as 50-50 to play
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Downs (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers, is considered "50-50" to play Week 2, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though his ability to close the week as a full practice participant Friday is normally an indication of a player being ready to play on game day, Downs' status still looks to be up in the air since he had been a limited or non-participant in practice in the five weeks before that while managing a left high-ankle sprain. According to Rapoport, the Colts want to make sure that Downs has zero issues with the ankle before clearing him to play, so the wideout could be put through a pregame workout before the team makes a call on his availability. Official word on Downs' status will be provided when Indianapolis releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. If Downs doesn't suit up or is subject to a limited snap count, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell could continue to see ample snaps alongside No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Set for limited practice
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Downs (ankle) is slated to be a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Downs is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain that he sustained Aug. 7 and continues to make progress, with his looming practice participation representing a key step toward potentially returning to action this weekend versus the Packers. In the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Texans, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell saw added snaps behind top option Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Being monitored for Week 2
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Coach Shane Steichen said Monday the Colts will monitor Downs (ankle) heading into the team's Week 2 road matchup against the Packers, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Downs was held out of Indianapolis' 29-27 loss to the Texans on Sunday, but it sounds like he could have a chance to return Week 2 at Green Bay. With Downs sidelined, Alec Pierce was able to translate his increased opportunities into a huge impact, securing all three of his targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. Even if Downs is healthy Week 2, Pierce's impressive performance leaves the Colts with a crowded wide receiver room, with Michael Pittman atop the depth chart and rookie second-round pick Adonai Mitchell having drawn five targets Week 1.
