The Indianapolis Colts made their biggest wide receiver move back in March when they traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That deal, paired with Alec Pierce’s four-year, $114 million extension (with upside to $116 million), shifted the spotlight inside the receiving room.
Now the path opens wider for Josh Downs.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak believes the third-year receiver is positioned for a significant step forward in 2026. Downs won’t be asked to carry the offense alone, but the extra volume and variety of looks should push his production higher than the 58 catches for 566 yards and four touchdowns he posted in 2025.
Over his first three NFL seasons and 47 games, Downs has already caught 198 passes for 2,140 yards and 11 scores. The numbers show steady accumulation, but the usage has stayed mostly short and inside. Solak sees room for growth if the scheme pushes him just a little farther downfield.
“I’m not here to predict a full Jaxon Smith-Njigba explosion from Downs as he works his way into more of a hybrid role; Downs is much shorter and lighter than JSN,” Solak wrote. “But I do think Downs shares Smith-Njigba’s fluidity as a route runner, which should open him up for deeper targets as coach Shane Steichen manufactures free releases for him off the line.”
“Downs is 111th in air yards per target among 121 high-volume wide receivers since he entered the league in 2023. If Steichen just gets him up to an average depth, Downs would be in line for a breakout year in production.”
The Colts’ offense under Steichen has always stressed pre-snap motion and bunch alignments to create clean releases. In past years those wrinkles mostly benefited Downs in three-receiver packages. With Pittman no longer occupying a starting spot in base personnel, Downs should see more two-receiver looks alongside Pierce. That shift gives Steichen more freedom to motion Downs into space or release him vertically without the same traffic he faced before.
Downs has already shown he can win after the catch and on intermediate crossers. The question Solak raises is whether the quarterback and play-caller will trust him on seams and deeper out-breaking routes. Daniel Jones, who started for Indianapolis in 2025 and re-signed this offseason, has shown he can push the ball downfield when the protection holds. A modest increase in average depth of target could turn Downs’ solid floor into something more explosive.
Here is how Downs’ production has stacked up so far:
| Span | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Season | 16 | 58 | 566 | 4 |
| Career (2023-2025) | 47 | 198 | 2,140 | 11 |
Colts fans have watched Downs flash in spurts — a sharp cut on third down, a tough catch in traffic, the occasional big gain when the defense loses him in zone. Those moments have come with limited runway. The departure of Pittman removes one layer of competition for targets and one layer of congestion in the route tree. Pierce remains the clear downfield threat after his extension, but the complementary pieces around him now have more room to operate.
Training camp will tell how quickly the chemistry clicks between Jones and the revamped receiving group. For Downs, the opportunity is no longer theoretical. The scheme, the roster math, and the recent expert read all point the same direction: more chances, more space, and a legitimate shot at the kind of season that turns a reliable slot receiver into a household name in Indianapolis.
