Colts' Josh Downs: Practices in full, poised to play
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Downs (ankle) practiced in full Wednesday and appears set to suit up Sunday versus Chicago.
Downs said Wednesday morning he intends to make his 2024 debut versus the Bears, and his ability to handle a full assortment of practice reps acts as convincing confirmation of that plan. 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, Downs will work in with Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell in a Colts wide receiver corps led by Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Downs is close to returning to action for the Colts after hurting his ankle in the preseason, and he could be a significant weapon for Anthony Richardson when healthy. Downs was considered 50-50 to play in Week 2 at Green Bay, so hopefully, he'll make his 2024 debut in Week 3 against the Bears. He's not someone you'll want to start any time soon, but he is someone to stash if you have an open roster spot. He's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB. You can also add Alec Pierce (34 percent rostered) in deeper leagues, and he has eight catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets in two games. Pierce is worth up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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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 viewed as a 50-50 decision 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: Questionable despite full practice
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Downs (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after logging a full practice Friday.
Downs upgraded from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday, but that wasn't enough for him to gain clearance for Sunday. The wideout hadn't practiced for five weeks before his activity this week, and he sat out the regular-season opener against the Texans, so even if he gets the green light Sunday, Downs likely won't have a full workload. Alec Pierce could once again be the main beneficiary in the event of a Downs absence.
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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.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Working off to the side
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Though Downs (ankle) wasn't participating in practice Friday, James Boyd of The Athletic notes that the wideout was doing individual movement drills off to the side.
If Downs officially goes down as a DNP for the third straight practice, his chances of suiting up Sunday versus Houston wouldn't seem promising. Either way, added context with regard to his Week 1 status will arrive no later that the release of the Colts' final injury report of the week.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Not seen at Thursday's practice
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Downs (ankle) wasn't spotted at Thursday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Though officially listed as a non-participant in the Colts' first practice of the week, Downs -- who is bouncing back from a high-ankle sprain -- noted that he ran some routes during Wednesday's session, while suggesting that he's "real close" to returning, per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis. With another DNP looming Thursday, what, if anything, Downs is able to do Friday figures to be pivotal in terms of his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Texans.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Still not practicing
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Downs (ankle) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Downs, who suffered a high-ankle sprain Aug. 7, has two more chances to log practice reps ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Texans. If Downs ends up being unavailable for the contest, fellow wideouts Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce would be in store for added opportunities versus Houston behind No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Not practicing Wednesday
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Downs (ankle) isn't practicing Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Downs hasn't practiced since suffering a high-ankle sprain Aug. 7, which was 32 days before the Colts' Sept. 8 season opener against Houston. Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that he's hopeful Downs will be available for the season opener, but the wideout's continued absences from practice suggest he's in danger of sitting out. Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell both had full-time roles on the first-team offense this preseason alongside No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Dealing with high-ankle sprain
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Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain during Wednesday's practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Per Fowler, the initial outlook is that Downs could miss about a month, but that's not yet a concrete estimate, as the Colts are currently working to establish a timeline for the receiver's return. In any case, Downs' Week 1 status will be worth monitoring closely, and if he's out or limited early on this season, Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce could see added opportunities alongside Michael Pittman.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Severity of ankle injury unknown
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said after Wednesday's practice that he's unsure of the severity of Downs' ankle injury, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Downs reportedly didn't put much weight on his injured leg when he was helped off the field earlier Wednesday. Initial reports were pessimistic, potentially creating a hurdle for a young wide receiver to overcome heading into his second season. Downs recorded a 68-771-2 receiving line on 98 targets last season, mostly working out of the slot after Indianapolis took him 79th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Draws only two targets
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Downs caught two passes for 52 yards on two targets in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Raiders.
Gardner Minshew threw only 20 targeted passes Sunday, so Downs' usage was quite low despite the impressive explosiveness. Downs tends to line up in the slot for Indianapolis, and the Raiders' best corner is slot man Nate Hobbs, so it makes sense that the rookie would struggle to get open consistently in this setting. His Week 18 matchup with Houston might be a more favorable matchup, though the Colts' run-heavy offense tends to leave little for Downs and Alec Pierce after WR1 Michael Pittman gets his targets.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Modest numbers with nine targets
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Downs brought in six of nine targets for 39 yards in the Colts' 29-10 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Downs led the Colts in receptions and targets in the absence of Michael Pittman (concussion), but that didn't add up to much on the yardage front. The speedy rookie hasn't topped 40 receiving yards in any of the last four games, and he hasn't been over 43 since Week 8. Even if Pittman is sidelined again in Week 17 against the Raiders, Downs isn't a sure bet to benefit by any stretch.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Another quiet outing
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Downs had three catches (on three targets) for 19 yards and three punt returns for 38 yards during Saturday's 30-13 victory versus the Steelers.
The pleasant special-teams performance aside, Downs missed out on a prime opportunity to produce on offense after Michael Pittman departed with a concussion midway through the second quarter. Instead of turning his focus to the Colts' No. 2 wide receiver, quarterback Gardner Minshew spread the ball around to eight different players among his 18 completions, and only one of Downs' targets occurred after Pittman's exit. Considering Pittman will be subject to the protocol for head injuries in order to gain clearance for his next game action, Downs technically has a chance to for an increased role Sunday, Dec. 24 in Atlanta if the former isn't able to play.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Another modest showing in loss
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Downs secured all three targets for 32 yards in the Colts' 34-14 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Downs put together his second straight three-catch effort and fifth consecutive sub-50-yard tally. The rookie wideout has flashed with much better production at times, but Gardner Minshew has been spreading the ball around to a wider variety of targets of late, helping lead to Downs' recent downturn.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Disappoints against Titans
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Downs recorded three receptions on five targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 31-28 overtime win against the Titans.
Downs saw 13 targets in Week 12, but he was unable to replicate that effort against the Titans. He was overshadowed by Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce, the latter of which is particularly concerning for Downs' potential volume moving forward. Overall, he's been limited to under 45 yards in four consecutive games and under 20 yards twice in that span.
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Colts' Josh Downs: Injures knee Sunday
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Downs suffered a knee injury during Sunday's contest at Carolina, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Prior to his departure, Downs gathered in his only target for 10 yards. As long as Downs is sidelined, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Isaiah McKenzie and Juwann Winfree will be the Colts' options at wide receiver.
