Josh Downs Primed for Bigger Role in Colts Offense

0:00On April 1st, with Michael Pittman now headed to Pittsburgh, the Indianapolis Colts have a prime opening in their wide receiver lineup, and that means big things for Josh Downs. He's stepping up to grab more targets and snaps in the offense, especially after Pittman's 110 looks last season. ESPN's Stephen Holder is calling it straight. Downs is prime for an expanded role. Ashton-Doulin and Nick Westbrook Ickhine will battle for those starting spots, but replacing Pittman's production falls heavy on getting downs more. Envolved. Last year, with Tyden Tyler Warren joining the mix, Downs saw his numbers dip from 72 catches and 803 yards in 20. 24 to just 58 receptions and 566 yards in 2025. Colts' general manager, Chris Ballard, is all in on Downs, saying he's freaking good and has always been that way. Ballard wants to unlock more of those special plays by giving him extra chances, and fans are buzzing about the potential boost to the passing game. The exact split on targets between Downs, Alec Pierce, and Warren is still up in the air, but early vibes from league meetings point to Downs owning a larger slice.

1:09Holder predicts he'll shine brighter without Pittman crowding the field. Ballard and the crew are betting on this shift to juice the offense, so keep eyes on training camp for how it shakes out. Football news, powered by AI. This is NFL News Today. I'm Corey with the story.