The Green Bay Packers have put together one of the league’s most dangerous wide receiver tandems, but the drop-off after that is steep. Too steep. One injury away from trouble has become the reality in Green Bay, and Christian Watson being carted off in an ambulance - even though he was able to return - should have driven that point home.
With Jordan Love in the middle of an MVP-caliber season, the Packers have a clear mandate: give him more help. That’s where Josh Downs comes in. After Downs told the Indianapolis Colts he doesn’t want to be there anymore, Green Bay has a chance to pounce, and Brian Gutekunst needs to act.
Downs could be available for a Day 3 pick, and there’s a case that he fits the Packers beyond just this season. His current numbers may not jump off the page, but the situation around him in Indianapolis has been rough.
Shane Steichen’s offense has been bad, and Daniel Jones is likely playing his way to the bench. The better indicator is what Downs has shown over the previous three seasons.
He’s one of the league’s most dependable slot receivers, especially on third down. He doesn’t bring the straight-line speed of Watson or Golden, but he does bring reliable hands, sharp route sense and the ability to work through traffic and keep drives alive.
Green Bay’s receiver room makes the need even more obvious. The Packers let Romeo Doubs go, traded Dontayvion Wicks and then lost Jayden Reed for the season. Beyond Golden and Watson, Love hasn’t had much to lean on, with Tucker Kraft a distant third in the pecking order.
And it’s not as if the ground game is bailing them out. The Packers can’t run the ball at all, and the uncertainty around Josh Jacobs only adds to the problem. They may still look for another running back or another fix on the interior offensive line, but that shouldn’t keep them from shopping in the pass-catcher market too.
Downs is set to become a free agent after the season, and his down year could actually make him cheaper to keep. For Green Bay, that could be the real appeal. He’d give Love a slot option he can trust, a safety valve that keeps the offense from having to live and die on deep shots and explosive plays every time the ball is snapped.
Watson’s injury history is already a concern, and Golden has been wildly inconsistent this season. Downs is the kind of proven piece who makes sense now, and his trade request may have pushed his price down just enough for the Packers to take advantage.
In Other News...
Packers May Face A Backfield Reset They Can't Ignore
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is already drawing attention, and Jordan Schultz has said he expects it to be one of the busier ones around the league. For the Packers, the intrigue centers on Jonathan Taylor, a player who has spent his entire career with the Colts while Indianapolis continues reshaping its roster and moving on from other established names. Green Bays interest makes sense on paper, especially with Taylor carrying a strong off-field reputation and a track record that has kept him among the leagues most recognizable backs.
The timing only adds to the conversation in Green Bay, where the backfield has become a more complicated topic than it looked a year ago. Josh Jacobs has dealt with legal issues tied to domestic dispute allegations, and the Packers are now being linked to a player whose profile is very different from the one they already have in place. If the Colts keep listening and the deadline market heats up as expected, this is the kind of situation that could force Green Bay to decide how aggressive it wants to be about a reset. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Make Their Josh Jacobs Stance Clear Amid Serious Allegations
Josh Jacobs is once again at the center of an NFL review, and the Packers are already making clear they expect him to stay on the roster while the process plays out. The league has expanded its investigation after new allegations surfaced, adding another layer of scrutiny to a player whose recent past already included a six-game absence on the commissioners exempt list following a no contest plea tied to an earlier arrest.
For Green Bay, the immediate football question is less about availability than about how long this situation lingers around the team. Jacobs has already dealt with league discipline once, and the Packers now find themselves waiting on the NFLs next move while the review continues. The teams stance is straightforward for now, but the broader picture remains unsettled as the investigation moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have A New Linebacker Problem In The Best Way
The Packers have managed to keep their defense on track even while dealing with injuries at linebacker, and the next stretch could say a lot about how deep that room really is. With Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin sidelined, Isaiah McDuffie and Tyron Hopper have been asked to carry more of the load, and the unit has held up well enough to keep Green Bay from feeling the full weight of those absences.
Hopper, in particular, has started to look like more than a fill-in. His recent impact showed up all over the field, from tackles to disruption in coverage and even splash plays in the backfield, which is the kind of production that can complicate a coachs rotation once everyone is healthy again. Franklin is expected back soon, but if Hopper keeps stacking strong performances, the Packers may have a new kind of linebacker question on their hands. [Read more 🡒]