Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Wednesday, and Downs neither confirmed nor denied it when he spoke with reporters later that day.
“I’m open to whatever,” Downs said. “Whatever comes my way, comes my way and we go from there.”
The report came one day after interim general manager Ed Dodds traded two longtime cornerstones to NFC West contenders. Eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson went to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner returned to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round selection.
The Colts fired Chris Ballard last week, then fell to 2-5 with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Colts coach Shane Steichen said he has the ultimate respect for what Nelson and Buckner meant to the organization, the team and the city.
“The best to ever do it,” Steichen said. “They are the definition of the standard in what you want in a football player. Definitely going to miss those guys.”
Steichen also said running back Jonathan Taylor has not requested a trade. Stephen Holder and Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that Taylor, nose tackle Grover Stewart and Downs are all attracting interest from other clubs.
Jordan Schultz reported that Downs has drawn interest from multiple AFC teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. A deal is not considered likely this week, but the expectation is that a trade will eventually happen, per Schultz. Pittsburgh acquired former Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a March trade.
Downs is in the final season of the four-year, $5.52 million rookie contract he signed after the Colts selected him in the third round, No. 79 overall, out of North Carolina in 2023. Free agency follows this season.
“You think about your future anyway,” Downs said. “That’s not really something that’s different.”
Through seven games, Downs has caught 26 of 46 targets for a team-high 307 yards and no touchdowns. His 11.8 yards per catch is a career high.
Most of that has come without Alec Pierce. The Colts placed Pierce on injured reserve Sept. 23, three days after he aggravated his surgically repaired left heel at Kansas City.
Over four seasons, Downs has 224 receptions for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns in 54 games. He set career highs in 2024 with 72 catches, 803 yards and five touchdowns. Last season he caught 58 passes for 566 yards and four scores.
Downs said he is in the game plan for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.
“It is what it is,” Downs said. “I’m here today, but whatever comes my way, comes my way.”
The Colts and Jaguars kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at EverBank Stadium, where Indianapolis has not won since 2014. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.
