How Josh Downs Could Change Patrick Mahomes’ Passing Game And Leave Other Kansas City Chiefs Receivers Fighting For Opportunities

How Josh Downs could change the Chiefs’ WR hierarchy© Getty via AFP

The Chiefs got the receiver they were chasing, and the price was modest. Josh Downs arrived from the Indianapolis Colts at Tuesday's deadline for a 2027 fourth-round and fifth-round pick, with Kansas City getting a seventh-rounder back. He gives Patrick Mahomes a sharp route runner for the stretch run. The catch is that Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy already work similar parts of the field. That leaves Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen and Andrew Armstrong with a much harder path to real targets this season in a room that was already crowded.

How Josh Downs changes Patrick Mahomes' passing game

Downs is 25 and in the final year of his contract. He had asked Indianapolis for a trade. His best season came in 2024, when he caught 72 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns. Kansas City wanted a steadier floor for its receivers, and Downs brings the route running to provide it.

The fit is not perfect. Downs does his best work in the short and occasional intermediate areas. So does Rice, who has shown little as a vertical threat since one deep connection with Mahomes years ago. Downs lines up in the slot more than outside, but Rice spends plenty of time there too, and Worthy is far from a full-time Z receiver. Three starters with overlapping jobs could make the early weeks look messy for Andy Reid and his staff.

Worthy's health adds a wrinkle. He hurt his hamstring in the Week 9 win over the Jets. Downs may have to carry more than planned right away.

Worthy has been hard to pin down all season. Kansas City tried to feature him early, giving him 165 snaps to Rice's 160 in the first three weeks. In Week 1, Rice played 83 percent of snaps, Worthy 77 and Tyquan Thornton 68. Thornton is now injured, though he could return late in the regular season or for the playoffs.

Chiefs receivers behind Downs now face a tougher fight for targets

Royals, last year's fourth-round pick, hurt his ankle Sunday, though it is not expected to sideline him for long. He caught both of his targets for 18 yards, each on third down. Royals played 21 snaps, Armstrong 22 and Allen 19, so the three were close to even. That balance probably ends now.

Armstrong is mostly a blocker. He could end up on waivers and then the practice squad.

Allen, a 2026 fifth-round pick, made plays all summer but has taken a long time to find an offensive role. He also struggled on special teams over the weekend. Downs can now give Kansas City what many hoped Allen would become this year.

Nikko Remigio is almost purely a special teams player. Justin Watson, a veteran on the practice squad, has one elevation left this season and knows both the offense and Dave Toub's special teams unit. He is a quiet option if injuries hit again.