The Chiefs didn’t waste any time getting a first look at Josh Downs, and the early read was exactly what they hoped for.
After his first practice in Kansas City, the new receiver drew praise from Patrick Mahomes, who pointed to Downs’ intelligence and the way he carries himself. Andy Reid had been watching for that too, and the coach’s concerns about how a new receiver would absorb the offense were part of the evaluation process when he and Brett Veach were sorting through possible fits.
Mahomes said the learning curve is real, even for a player who arrived with a strong reputation.
“The entire offense, it’ll probably take a couple weeks (to learn),” Mahomes said.
Reid described Downs as “a pretty alert kid,” a comment that gets at the kind of details Kansas City needs from its receivers - the ability to adjust, stay synced with Mahomes, and handle the moving parts at the line of scrimmage. That’s been a sticking point for the group at times, and it’s one reason Mahomes has often leaned on Travis Kelce when things start to unravel.
Downs, for his part, said the past 72 hours have been a “whirlwind,” per Jesse Newell of The Athletic. His final game for the Indianapolis Colts came against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and it wasn’t a clean one. Downs said he wasn’t at his best after a game that included two critical drops.
Still, the trade clearly meant something to him. He said he feels valued now, and he got emotional when the deal was announced.
He also made it clear he understands the assignment. Downs said he didn’t want to be the player who’s “asking everybody what the play is, what the formation is,” per Newell.
That mindset matters in a hurry. Mahomes said Downs can help the Chiefs win one-on-one matchups, which is the exact reason Kansas City brought him in. Reid didn’t put a number on how much Downs will play right away, but with the receiver only just getting started in the offense, the ramp-up is still underway.
The Chiefs need him fast, and that makes Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons a situation worth watching. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Downs is featured often as Kansas City tries to get him up to speed.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
Marquise Brown is suddenly back on the market, with the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly waiving the veteran receiver after just four appearances this season. Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs, so his availability immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Kansas City at a time when receiver depth always draws extra attention.
If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]