INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade, ESPN reported Wednesday, signaling further disruption for a franchise deep in the midst of a roster teardown.
The request came one day after Indianapolis moved two veteran cornerstones, dealing offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. With the NFL trade deadline set for Nov. 10, multiple clubs have already contacted Indianapolis to express interest in Downs, according to ESPN reporters Jeremy Fowler and Stephen Holder.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, the 25-year-old receiver did not explicitly confirm the trade request, but he acknowledged his uncertain standing and stated that he remains open to moving forward.
“I’m open to whatever comes my way,” Downs said, noting he is still preparing to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend. “I’m here right now, I’m where my feet are. We got the Jags this weekend. I’m in the game plan, so I’ve got to be ready to go.”
A franchise in transition
Downs is in the final year of his rookie contract and is eligible to hit unrestricted free agency after the season. Selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, Downs has caught 224 passes for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns over 54 career games with Indianapolis.
This fall, Downs has recorded 26 receptions for 307 yards. After the Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. during the offseason, the team counted on Downs to assume greater responsibility in the slot. However, opposing defenses have routinely double-teamed him during Alec Pierce’s absence, and Downs struggled with three key dropped passes during a pivotal loss to the Tennessee Titans. That defeat prompted the firing of longtime General Manager Chris Ballard, ushering in interim General Manager Ed Dodds and sparking this week’s departures.
Downs voiced support for his former teammates Nelson and Buckner following their exits to playoff contenders.
“They deserve to have a great shot of winning something big this year,” Downs said. “I know they’re excited for their future.”
What comes next before the deadline
With Dodds looking to stockpile future draft assets, trading Downs rather than risking losing him in free agency would fit the organization’s current trajectory. Indianapolis has already signaled to the rest of the league that major changes are underway. While running back Jonathan Taylor signed a two-year extension over the summer, his name has also surfaced in trade discussions, NBC Sports reported.
Any continued roster purge carries long-term consequences across the league, particularly for the New York Jets, who control the Colts’ first-round selection in the 2027 NFL draft, according to NBC Sports.
For now, Downs indicated that he will remain focused on his weekly duties until a transaction is finalized.
“It could be different tomorrow, it could be different the next day,” Downs said. “Just got to be focused on right now.”
Whether Indianapolis finds an acceptable offer for Downs before Nov. 10 remains to be seen, but the receiver’s trade request makes it increasingly likely that his tenure with the Colts is nearing its end.
