The Steelers are still hunting for help at wide receiver, but Josh Downs may have talked himself out of Pittsburgh’s wish list in Week 9.
Downs has been one of the names most often linked to the Steelers as the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline draws near. The Colts receiver is 25, has put together two productive NFL seasons, and is in the final year of his rookie deal, which makes him an appealing, affordable target for a team looking to add offense fast.
On paper, it makes sense. Indianapolis has already moved on from Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and more deals could be coming before the deadline.
Downs fits the profile of a player a team might shop, and he also fits a Steelers need. He’s quick, he separates well, and Pittsburgh could use more of that in its receiver room.
But the Colts’ latest game offered a reminder of why the fit may not be as clean as it looks.
Against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, Downs entered the matchup after a rough stretch. He had posted fewer than 50 receiving yards in five straight games, and the outing against Dallas didn’t change the conversation around him. If anything, it made things worse.
The key moment came in the second quarter on a third down play with the Colts needing eight yards for a first down. Downs ran a hitch route that left him just short of the line to gain, and the design worked against the coverage Dallas showed. Daniel Jones put the ball in a spot that wasn’t perfect, but it was still catchable.
Downs didn’t make the grab, and the Colts’ offense came off the field empty-handed.
NFL insider Ari Meirov shared the play on his X account, showing Downs’ drop and the trash talk that followed from his brother, Cowboys safety Caleb Downs.
#Colts WR Josh Downs dropped a pass, and his brother, #Cowboys S Caleb Downs, was right there to trash-talk him. 😂 pic.twitter.com/tWir58SXdo
Drops happen. Usually, that’s not enough to bury a player’s trade value. But in this case, the moment landed like a warning flare.
Pittsburgh doesn’t just need another receiver who can get open. It needs someone who can deliver when the game tightens up, someone Aaron Rodgers can trust on third down. That matters even more with Rodgers saying his goodbyes to the NFL and the Steelers hoping to make a deep playoff run.
Downs may still have talent and upside. He may still make sense for another team. But for the Steelers, the latest tape suggests he’s not the answer.
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