Josh Downs isn’t losing sleep over Keenan Allen landing in Indianapolis.
The Colts added the veteran receiver on a one-year, $3.32 million deal, and with Daniel Jones expected to have another proven target in the mix, Downs knows the wideout rotation is going to shift. But the 25-year-old didn’t sound concerned about how the workload will be divided.
“Nah, coach gon’ handle it how he wants to handle it. So, that’s his responsibility,” Downs said Wednesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.
That answer says plenty. Downs is leaving the target math to the staff, and he’s not making Allen’s arrival into a problem.
There’s also a clear upside for Downs in this setup. Allen brings a long track record and a veteran’s feel for the position, giving Indianapolis another receiver who can win downfield and create plays. For a younger player still early in his NFL career, that kind of presence can be useful in more ways than one.
Allen’s resume is the kind that commands attention. He spent 11 of his first 13 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, then played the 2024 season with the Bears before returning to the Chargers on a one-year deal for 2025. After that, he headed to the AFC South and joined the Colts.
Across 171 games, Allen has piled up 12,051 receiving yards and 70 touchdowns on 1,055 catches and 1,552 targets. Even with his best years in the rearview, Indianapolis is still counting on him to make plays in 2026.
Downs is heading into his fourth NFL season, and his production dipped in 2025. After finishing with 803 receiving yards in 2024, he dropped to 566 last season.
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For a Colts offense that plans to lean on him heavily, getting Pierce through this stage matters. He arrived on a four-year, $114 million contract and is positioned as a key piece of the passing game, so his ability to rejoin practice without restriction changes the tone of camp and sharpens the attention on how quickly he settles back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Testing Ashton Dulin In Role That Could Sway Receiver Cuts
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The timing matters because roster construction is starting to come into focus, and one more capable return option could give the Colts more flexibility at receiver. If Dulin can handle both jobs, it may help the team keep a pair of veterans in Laquon Treadwell and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine instead of forcing a tougher cut elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson's Colts Future Suddenly Feels Like A Real Decision
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For Indianapolis, the intrigue is obvious because Richardson still carries the kind of upside that can keep a front office attached, but the margin for patience is never unlimited at quarterback. If the Colts decide they need to move in another direction, they would not be alone in testing the market for a young passer, and the coming cutdown period could turn what looks like a developmental story into a real decision for several teams at once. [Read more 🡒]
