Ask a fan of the Indianapolis Colts who the best player on their team is, and there's a good chance they'll answer Josh Downs. The wide receiver had a fantastic 2024, setting franchise records, despite having suffered multiple injuries this season.
Downs saw improvement in 2024, despite having played less games than he did in 2023, and his future in the NFL is clearly bright. So it's no surprise that the NFL's Kevin Patra named him the unsung hero of 2024 for the Indianapolis Colts.
Patra named one player from each team who weren't recognized with Pro Bowl nominations, but still made a huge difference. For the Colts, that was Josh Downs.
"In the 2024 iteration of the Colts' offense, no receiver was going to put up massive numbers. Indianapolis had the sixth-fewest pass attempts (513), fewest completions (289) and eighth-fewest passing yards (3,361). Downs led Indy with 72 catches, but his season was more than just counting stats. When Indy needed a clutch play, it was Downs who delivered, converting a team-high 40 receiving first downs and posting a 53.3 success rate. Shaky quarterback play can color the perception of a receiver, but all Downs does is get open. His 69.75 separation percentage ranked sixth in the NFL for 2024, per Pro Football Focus. If the Colts get better consistency under center in 2025, Downs’ star will rise. "Kevin Patra
Downs was recently named one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, with Pro Football Focus ranking him at #11 out of 33 receivers. Again, considering that he missed playing time this season due to injuries, this says a lot about how well he was able to play... and that's not even considering that he was dealing with inconsistency at quarterback all season long.
His 66 receptions in 2024 set a franchise record for the Colts, which was previously held by Bill Brooks with 65 receptions in his 1986 rookie season. Downs has been a great addition to the receiving unit, particularly considering that Michael Pittman, Jr. had to play through 2024 with a fractured back. It's clear to everyone that we should be expecting great things from Downs in the future as he continues to grow and develop.