Colts’ WR Josh Downs Ready For Breakout Season In 2024

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had a very solid rookie campaign, but he is looking to make some major improvements heading into 2024.

Earlier this week, Downs said he feels he could have been even more productive last season had he fine-tuned a few things here and there.

“I feel like I have some little things I can improve on in the route releases,” Downs said, via JJ Stankevitz of the Colts’ official team website. “I left some plays on the field last year, but everybody does that. I looked at those plays. I’m trying to identify coverages better – things like that.”

Downs played in every game and hauled in 68 receptions for 771 yards and a couple of touchdowns as the Colts’ No. 2 receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr. this past year, so it’s not like he wasn’t doing his job.

But the 22-year-old thinks the experience of Year 1 will benefit him greatly going into his sophomore season.

“That comes with understanding the offense more – just knowing what the other receivers, even the tight end, are running,” Downs said. “And then knowing the run game better as well and just having a year under your belt, you know the level of competition you’re going to go up against now and you see what type of players you’re playing against each and every week. Just like high school and college, that second year is big.”

Downs will certainly have some more competition for targets in 2024, as Indianapolis selected University of Texas wide out Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the NFL Draft late last month.

Indy now has a receiving corps that includes Pittman, Downs, Mitchell and Alec Pierce, so we’ll see how quarterback Anthony Richardson and the team’s coaching staff manage touches between those guys.

Downs is a slot receiver, so he should be able to rack up some numbers regardless, and Mitchell’s presence may actually end up helping him.

We’ll see if Josh Downs can have an even stronger year in 2024.