The Kansas City Chiefs are still hunting for help at wide receiver, and the trade market is starting to look like their best path forward.
After back-to-back losses, Kansas City’s passing game has come under the microscope again. The Chiefs have been working through injuries and uneven production from the players expected to ease the burden on Patrick Mahomes, leaving the offense without the kind of reliable WR1 presence they’ve been chasing.
Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are on the roster, but the search for another difference-maker hasn’t stopped. Even with Kenneth Walker giving the running game a boost after a Super Bowl MVP season, the Chiefs are still looking for more juice through the air.
One name coming up repeatedly is Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs. Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported Saturday that Kansas City is monitoring him closely as the deadline approaches.
“The Chiefs continue to search for wide receiver help. Multiple sources say they’re looking for a big-name receiver - Josh Downs comes up most often - but they are ‘checking on everyone,’ one rival executive tells me. I will be floored if they don’t have someone by Tuesday evening,” Jones reported on Saturday.
Downs has played in eight games this season and has 30 catches for 330 yards and one touchdown. The Colts enter Week 9 at 2-6, and Jones’ reporting suggests Indianapolis may be willing to listen on more than just the obvious names. Even Jonathan Taylor, according to the source material, does not appear to be fully off limits.
Kansas City may not be locked in on just one target, either. Brandon Aiyuk has also surfaced as a possible option for the Chiefs after returning to the San Francisco 49ers facility this weekend.
For now, the message is clear: the Chiefs are not waiting around. They’re checking on everyone.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Should Be Bracing For A Stunning Sauce Gardner Twist
With the trade deadline approaching, the Colts are being linked to a broader wave of moves as they try to reset after a disappointing start. One of the most surprising names in that mix is Sauce Gardner, the cornerback Indianapolis acquired in a major deal that sent future first-round picks the other way and was followed by a record contract extension.
The possibility is jarring because Gardner was supposed to be part of the long-term core, not a player discussed in a deadline shuffle. Moving him would be complicated, too, with the kind of contract structure that narrows the market and makes any deal harder to pull off, even for a team willing to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rout Of Colts Just Added A Controversial Twist
The Colts trip to Jacksonville was already a rough one, with the Jaguars rolling to a 42-7 win at EverBank Stadium, but the aftermath brought an extra layer of frustration. Four Jaguars players were fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct in a game that quickly got away from Indianapolis, adding a disciplinary footnote to a lopsided division loss.
Anthony Richardsons return also gave the Colts a reason to keep watching the bigger picture, even if the result on the field was hard to stomach. After missing time because of an eye injury, the quarterback was back in action for the first time this season, and his presence offered a glimpse of what Indianapolis has been waiting to evaluate as it tries to move past a game that turned chippy and one-sided in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Josh Downs Decision As Trade Interest Builds
Trade chatter around the Colts has not been limited to the backfield. After receiving offers for Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones, Indianapolis is also listening on wide receivers, with Josh Downs drawing interest from several contenders and the possibility of a move becoming a real part of the conversation as the deadline approaches. Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Washington, San Francisco and the Rams are among the teams linked to Downs, and the Colts are weighing whether to keep him in place or capitalize on the market while it is active.
The appeal is obvious from both sides. Downs has a camp that reportedly wants a path to a better quarterback situation, while Indianapolis is taking a broader look at its roster and the value it could extract in return. One offer for Downs is said to include a fourth-round pick, and the Colts may not rush a decision until they have a clearer read on the market, especially with other veteran pass catchers still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]