Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been getting a lot of press of late. He has been tagged as a potential breakout star in several recent reports. There is a lot of reason to believe such analysis.
Downs has undeniable physical talent and has shown it throughout his three seasons. For anyone who places stock in “new contract motivation,” the fact that he is entering season number four is another sign of big things to come.
Downs’ rookie deal expires this year, and with a good season under his belt, he will be in line for a major raise, either from the Colts or from another receiver-hungry team. It is a great time to be a free agent receiver in the NFL.
Josh Downs' Indianapolis Colts role in 2026 is still undefined, but it will almost certainly be major
Most importantly, the departure of former WR1 Michael Pittman – with no obvious successor – leaves a big hole on the offense. Even with Alec Pierce assuming Pittman’s alpha receiver role, Downs would seem well-positioned to pick up some slack.
Another recent report adds even more fuel to the Josh Downs fire. It turns out that, in addition to everything else, Downs is something of a security blanket for the Colts’ QB Daniel Jones.
Pro Football Focus (subscription required) recently published a list of pass catchers based on performance when their quarterback was under pressure. Downs ranked third in the entire NFL amongst all receivers.
Only veteran standouts Davante Adams and Mike Evans received a higher percentage of their teams' throws when the QB faced pressure. Three other players – all running backs – also placed ahead of Downs. The Rams' Puka Nacua finished immediately after him.
Adams, Evans, and Nacua. That's pretty good company. This suggests that when Daniel Jones is under pressure, he is looking for Josh Downs. That was true in 2025, despite the fact that Downs’ overall numbers dipped, in large part because of the number of quality pass catchers the Colts could put on the field at any moment.
The normal starting lineup in 2025 featured Pierce, Pittman, and Downs at receiver, along with Tyler Warren and Jonathan Taylor at tight end and running back. Those last two players have excellent receiving skills.
Downs was one of four Indy pass catchers targeted more than 80 times in 2025. He trailed Warren and Pittman, and was just ahead of Pierce. Despite finishing ninth in overall passing, the Colts were the only team in the league to have that many players get that many looks. Pierce, Warren and Downs all figure to see an increase in targets with Pittman gone.
Downs was not only targeted the most when Jones was under pressure – he was also the most productive, converting a team-leading 14 first downs in such situations.
This tracks with his generally high productivity rate. 40 of Downs’ 58 receptions in 2025 resulted in either a first down or a touchdown. The 69% rate was the highest of his career. It was a higher number than Pittman or Warren, though not as high as Pierce.
For much of 2025, the Colts fielded a prototypical pass-catching corps. Pittman was the classic possession receiver. Pierce was the deep threat, and Downs played the slot to a T. He is small of stature but has solid long speed and even better agility and burst numbers.
During scouting, he ran the first ten yards of his 40-yard dash in an exceptional 1.49 seconds. His short shuttle and 3-cone drill times were well above average, as were his scores in both the vertical and broad jump. That all adds up to a player who may not excel in separating from physical defenders, but has suddenness that can scare even the quickest member of the secondary.
He has used that athleticism to develop into a polished route runner. Despite playing the slot, his average route depth exceeded Pittman and Warren in 2025. It is easy to see why big things are expected this year.
Where must Josh Downs improve? Will he remain in the slot, or will he shift outside or even line up in the backfield on occasion?
My guess is he will still be Indy’s primary slot receiver but will be moved around more than in the past. Getting him in space will be essential. Downs had a surprisingly low yards-after-catch number last year.
That is probably because he plays in traffic most of the time. Finding ways to isolate him on the outside from time to time would go a long way toward making the Colts’ passing game very dangerous.
We already know that Daniel Jones is comfortable looking for Josh Downs when he is under pressure. That is not likely to change in 2026. If he can add a bit more route variety while remaining the reliable target he has become, those predictions about Josh Downs might prove to be 100 percent true
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