The Colts have gone from thin at receiver to crowded in a hurry, and Josh Downs doesn’t sound remotely bothered by it.
Indianapolis added Keenan Allen to give the offense a reliable chain-mover, and with Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren both on track to play in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens despite being banged up, Shane Steichen suddenly has a deep group to sort through. For a player entering a contract year, that could be a concern. Downs, though, is leaving the juggling to the staff.
“Nah, coach gon’ handle it how he wants to handle it. So, that’s his responsibility,” Downs told the media.
That kind of answer fits the moment. Around the league, players are usually chasing touches and numbers, especially when a new deal is coming.
Downs is taking a different approach, one that keeps the focus on the bigger picture. If the Colts win, his market should take care of itself.
There’s also plenty here for him to work with. Allen gives Daniel Jones a dependable third-down option, and his hands and route-running should command attention from defenses even if he isn’t winning with speed or explosiveness. Downs, meanwhile, still looks positioned to get plenty of work in the short and intermediate game, especially with Pierce more of a vertical threat and Warren projected to be near the top of the pecking order in the passing attack.
Indianapolis has usually leaned on the run on 40 to 44 percent of its offensive snaps, but that could shift in 2026. Jonathan Taylor will still be part of the engine, though he won’t have to carry the entire load every week.
The Colts clearly believe Jones can be the answer at quarterback, and they’ve spent to give him the kind of support that can help make that happen. With Jones looking crisper after his injury and the addition of more pass-catching options, this could end up being the most pass-happy offense of Shane Steichen’s tenure.
For Downs, the contract question can wait. If the Colts are playing winning football, his case gets stronger right along with the rest of the offense.
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Indianapolis has already adjusted around him, with other linebackers handling the MIKE duties Allen was expected to take on. That does not close the door on his role long term, but it does create a temporary picture that looks different from what the Colts had in mind when they drafted him. For a defense trying to find its footing, the next stretch of camp will matter for Allen, and for how quickly the Colts can settle the heart of the linebacker group. [Read more 🡒]