Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Downs popped up on the team's Wednesday injury report with a concussion and has not practiced since entering the league's concussion protocol. Downs is coming off his best game of the year after catching six passes for 42 yards and a score against the Cardinals. While they play different roles in the offense, Downs' absence could create more target opportunities for Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Meanwhile, Adonai Mitchell could see a return to action after the team limited his snaps in Week 5 and made him a healthy inactive for Week 6 following his Week 4 fumble on what should have been a highlight touchdown grab.
Oct 17, 2025 2:13 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) were not seen practicing on Friday, according to Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts. It marks the third straight missed practice this week for both pass-catchers, meaning it's unlikely that either will be active on Sunday for a Week 7 battle in Los Angeles against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. They will both likely be ruled out officially later on Friday. It means that Adonai Mitchell, who was a healthy scratch in Week 6 after two crucial blunders in Week 5, should be active as the WR3 behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Downs will need to clear the league's concussion protocol next week to get back on the field if he's going to return in Week 8 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. With Downs likely out this weekend, Pierce becomes a sneaky WR4/flex streamer in fantasy football.
Oct 17, 2025 12:44 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) was held out of practice on both Wednesday and Thursday due to a concussion, so his status for the team's Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers is very much up in the air. However, Downs had shown some encouraging signs in the last two games before getting injured. Across Weeks 5 and 6, Downs recorded 12 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets, leading Colts wide receivers in targets in both games. The 24-year-old has shown the ability to be a consistent target-earner in the past, averaging 7.6 targets per game across 14 games in 2024. Particularly given his current injury status, now may be a good time to buy low on Downs for fantasy managers who can afford to wait a week or two before plugging him into their lineup.
Oct 17, 2025 10:47 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) is missing a second straight practice this week on Thursday due to a concussion he suffered in the Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. In addition to Downs, fellow receiver Ashton Dulin (chest) is missing a second straight practice, which means that Indy's WR corps could be thin this weekend on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. If both Downs and Dulin are not cleared by Sunday, Adonai Mitchell, who was a healthy scratch last Sunday, will probably be active again. Alec Pierce would also be elevated to the No. 2 role behind Michael Pittman Jr. Downs and Dulin have one more day to return to practice, but right now, it's not looking good for their Week 7 statuses. Pierce would be in play as a WR4/flex option in starting fantasy lineups if Downs is inactive.
Oct 16, 2025 1:42 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol this week, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Fellow wideout Ashton Dulin (chest) also missed practice on Wednesday with a chest injury. Downs had a strong game in the Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals, catching six of his seven targets for 42 yards and a touchdown, but he could be forced to miss a Week 7 contest on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers unless he's cleared from the concussion protocol later this week. If Downs is unavailable this weekend, Adonai Mitchell could be active once again as WR depth after being a healthy scratch last Sunday. Alec Pierce would be elevated to the WR2 role behind Michael Pittman Jr. and would be in play as a WR4/flex in fantasy lineups. In the last two games, Downs has come on strong, catching 12 total passes (15 targets) for 96 yards and a score.
Oct 15, 2025 5:27 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has seen a more consistent role in the Colts' passing attack over the last few weeks and even managed to find the end zone for the first time this year in the Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Downs hauled in six of his seven targets for 42 yards and a touchdown. It was nice to see Downs score for the first time in 2025, and it came with fellow wideout Alec Pierce making his return from a two-game absence due to a concussion. The 24-year-old has caught six passes in back-to-back weeks now, and he has been targeted 15 times in that span. He has seen at least five targets in each of the last three weeks. Pierce's return will surely make it harder for Downs to maintain that consistency, but it's clear he's a big part of a passing attack in Indy that also includes Michael Pittman Jr. and impressive rookie tight end Tyler Warren. Downs is only rostered in 50% of Yahoo leagues currently. That number should be higher.
Oct 14, 2025 1:07 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is off to a slow start in 2025. The veteran slot receiver has now caught just 20 passes for 175 scoreless yards in five contests. Downs thrived on seeing high volume over the past two seasons, but new Indy quarterback Daniel Jones seems to prefer throwing to Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Warren in the passing attack. Downs will hope to get it going in Week 6's home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are allowing the 20th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season, setting up a moderately tough matchup for Downs and company. Downs is on the radar as a WR4/flex option in PPR leagues this season.
Oct 11, 2025 9:03 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs turned in his best game of the season in a Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Downs caught six of his eight targets for a season-high 54 yards in a 40-6 blowout win on Sunday. The veteran wideout has been quiet to start the season, but he will hope his performance is a springboard to a larger role going forward. Downs will now prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. The Cardinals are allowing just the 20th-most fantasy points per game this year, but Downs should stay involved with Alec Pierce (concussion) expected to miss a third-straight game. Downs sets up as a WR5/flex option heading into Week 6.
Oct 7, 2025 7:42 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is off to a quiet start to the season. The veteran slot receiver has caught just 14 passes for 121 scoreless yards through four games as he has taken a back seat to Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Warren in the passing attack. Downs has hope for a breakout game in Week 5, however, as he will face off against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that is allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts through four games. It is understandable if fantasy managers aren't ready to trust Downs due to his slow start, but this is the week to start him as a solid flex option in PPR leagues thanks to the excellent matchup.
Oct 4, 2025 11:13 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is being used "all over the field," according to the offensive coordinator for the Colts, Jim Bob Cooter. Downs has been able to "line up on the outside as well as the slot," showcasing his versatility on the field and being an option for quarterback Daniel Jones in the passing game. So far through the four weeks of the season, Downs has yet to have a breakout game, topping 50 receiving yards only once, and has yet to find the endzone. However, hearing Cooter speak about Downs, the Colts may be looking to get Downs more involved in the passing game down the stretch. With bye weeks coming up and injuries being inevitable, Downs could be a nice bench stash for the time being in deeper leagues, especially if he continues to lineup all over the field and we see his targets increase per game. However, at this time, we have not seen it happen on the field, so until then, Downs should remain out of starting lineups in most standard formats. The Colts play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6, so look for Downs to be more involved than he has been against a poor Raiders defense that has allowed the third-most points to the wide receiver position.
Oct 1, 2025 9:52 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is off to a quiet start to the season, catching 10 passes for 97 scoreless yards through three games. As emerging as the Colts' top option in 2024, the slot receiver has taken a backseat to Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Warren in the team's passing attack with quarterback Daniel Jones under center. That being said, he could see more work come his way with Alec Pierce (concussion) already ruled out for Week 4. Downs will look to get on track in a road matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Rams are allowing the 14th-most fantasy points per game to receivers this season. Downs sets up as a middling flex option in fantasy this weekend with the hope that he sees more targets with Pierce unavailable.
Sep 27, 2025 8:49 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs was quiet in his team's 41-20 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. Downs caught just two of his three targets for 34 yards to finish fourth on the team in receiving. Through three weeks with Daniel Jones under center, Downs appears to have taken a backseat to Michael Pittman Jr. as the No. 1 receiver in the Indy passing attack. The veteran slot receiver will look to bounce back in Week 4's road matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, but he's settling in as a WR5 in fantasy after a pedestrian start to the season.
Sep 22, 2025 6:47 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) shook off a slow Week 1 to post six catches for 51 yards in a Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos. He will look to keep it going in a Week 3 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Downs dealt with an ankle injury during practice this week, but practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, and does not have an injury designation heading into the weekend. The Colts have spread the ball around through two weeks, but Tyler Warren's toe injury could limit him this weekend, which would open up more work for Downs in the passing game. Treat Downs as a solid WR4/5 with a decent PPR floor heading into Week 3.
Sep 20, 2025 10:51 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) practiced in full on Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury. Downs appears to be on track to play in the team's Week 3 contest against the Tennessee Titans. Through two games, Downs has recorded eight catches for 63 yards on 11 targets. The 24-year-old appears to be behind both wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Tyler Warren in the pass-catching pecking order for Indianapolis, at least early in the season. Downs profiles as a fantasy WR4/5 in Week 3 with a relatively safe PPR floor but limited ceiling.
Sep 18, 2025 4:33 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) is practicing on Thursday after he picked up a DNP in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. It's unclear if Downs was limited or a full-go, but the fact that he's back on the practice field gives fantasy managers hope that he'll be able to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The 24-year-old caught just two of three targets for 12 yards in the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins, but he bounced back with six catches for 51 yards on eight targets in the Week 2 victory over the Denver Broncos. If he's active, Downs will be an intriguing WR4/flex play in fantasy again this weekend against a Titans defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR points to the position through the first two weeks.
Sep 18, 2025 1:21 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) was unable to practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status. If he is unable to log a limited session by the end of the week, he could be in danger of missing their Week 3 contest against the Tennessee Titans. Through the first two games of the season, Downs has been deployed as their No. 3 WR. In Week 1, Downs only saw three targets. He was able to bring in two of them for 12 yards. However, in Week 2, Downs was able to see eight targets and caught six for 51 yards. Seeing that Downs is typically not on the field as often as Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr., his upside will continue to be limited. If he can play against the Titans, he carries high-risk flex upside given his lower role in the offense.
Sep 17, 2025 4:42 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs disappointed in Week 1, catching just two passes for 12 yards in a win over the Miami Dolphins. Fortunately for his fantasy managers, Downs looked more like his usual self in Week 2, hauling in six of his eight targets for 51 yards against the Denver Broncos. With the Indy offense humming along with Daniel Jones under center, Downs should continue to string together productive fantasy outings, especially in PPR leagues. He should be treated as a high-end WR3/flex option heading into a Week 3 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
Sep 15, 2025 8:35 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs will take on the Denver Broncos at home in Week 2. Downs turned in a disappointing Week 1 performance in a win over the Miami Dolphins despite the Colts scoring 33 points, catching just two of three targets for 12 yards. The veteran slot receiver will look to bounce back after that performance, but might have a tough time doing so against an intimidating Broncos secondary. That being said, top Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II is likely to spend more time on the outside covering Michael Pittman Jr., Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce, which should open things up for Downs in the middle of the field. Downs has some appeal as a dart-throw flex option in PPR leagues, but he is better left on fantasy benches this weekend unless desperate.
Sep 13, 2025 8:11 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs will host the Miami Dolphins to kick off the 2025 NFL season in Week 1. Downs dealt with a hamstring injury for much of August, but he is off the injury report and ready to go on Sunday. The veteran receiver will take on a Dolphins secondary that is considered a team weakness and could struggle to slow opposing pass-catchers. Downs is likely to operate as Daniel Jones' top target this season, provided he can stay on the field and shake the injury bug that has plagued him over his career. Fantasy managers can treat Downs as a solid WR3/flex option heading into Week 1.
Sep 6, 2025 9:24 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (hamstring) is not on the team's initial injury report. This is an excellent sign as the wideout was battling a hamstring injury throughout most of August. However, seeing him practice in full on Wednesday should put him in an excellent position to be at full strength in their season opener on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week in case he faces a setback. Last season, despite playing with subpar QB play, Downs flashed immense upside as he averaged 13.1 PPR points per game across 14 contests. During this stretch, Downs tallied 57.4 yards per game and scored five touchdowns. With Daniel Jones slated to serve as the QB1 in Indianapolis, Downs possesses high-end WR3 upside facing the Dolphins.
Sep 3, 2025 4:09 PM EST