If you are an Indianapolis Colts fan and slept through Tuesday, let's play a little catch-up. Your favorite team did the unexpected and made an immediately impactful trade for a player that wasn't even being mentioned as being tradeable. Indy now has elite cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Gardner did not come cheaply. The Indianapolis Colts had to give up their next two first-round draft picks to grab a cornerback who, twice in his first three seasons, was named First-Team All-Pro. Gardner is signed through 2029 and is better than any player Indy could have taken with those first-round choices, but he could affect the future depth.
In the immediate future, it is wide receiver Josh Downs who is ironically affected. Downs wasn't going to play cornerback, of course, just as Gardner wasn't going to turn Travis Hunter and suddenly play wide receiver, too. Instead, Downs, an electric slot receiver, will need to change his jersey number.
Indianapolis Colts slot receiver Josh Downs gives up his jersey number for Sauce Gardner
Downs has donned jersey No. 1 for Indy since he was taken in the third round of the 2023 draft, but Gardner has worn the same number with the New York Jets since he was chosen fourth overall in the 2022 draft. Gardner was wearing the number in the NFL before Downs, and is more accomplished.
Downs will give us his current number, and instead, according to former Indianapolis Colts punter and current media icon Pat McAfee, Downs will begin wearing No. 2. That is the same number that his brother Caleb wears at Ohio State.
So, if you are someone who likes to buy a bunch of jerseys but is also specifically a fan of the Colts' current slot receiver, you are in an odd spot. Instead of purchasing just one new jersey, you will need to buy two. You certainly cannot be an Indianapolis Colts fan without getting the jersey of the team's newest player, one capable of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But you also cannot stop wearing your Downs jersey. He is pretty good, too, and he is worthy of having his jersey donned. You might just have to save a bit to get both.