Josh Downs Trade Speculation Sparks Fan Reaction As Colts Begin Roster Shake-Up

Josh Downs Trade Talk Grows After Colts Move Two Veterans© Instagram

Quenton Nelson was gone by Tuesday afternoon. DeForest Buckner followed him out of Indianapolis a few hours later. Now Josh Downs is drawing calls from teams that need a receiver, with two weeks remaining before the NFL trade deadline.

Adam Schefter named Downs as a player who could be moved during Tuesday's Pat McAfee Show. Ian Rapoport reported that the Colts receiver had been involved in trade discussions, and Jordan Schultz reported interest from receiver-needy teams. For Colts fans watching the roster change around him, that was enough to start another round of anxious reactions.

Fans Wonder Who Goes Next After Tuesday's Trades

“No one is safe. Stay close to your phones,” one fan wrote on X after Underdog NFL shared Schefter's update.

Another response was blunter: “Looks like the Colts are for sale.”

The jokes arrived amid actual departures. Indianapolis confirmed Nelson's move to Seattle for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder. Buckner returned to San Francisco, with the Colts receiving a 2027 fourth-round pick.At 2-5, Indianapolis has already dismissed general manager Chris Ballard. Sunday's 16-10 defeat at Minnesota was followed by a Tuesday spent moving two of the team's most recognizable players.

Downs is younger than either veteran and still on his rookie deal. That contract expires after this season, however, putting his future among the decisions facing a club that has begun collecting picks.The reported interest has not yet produced an announced destination for him.

Downs Approaches Free Agency After Quiet Start

Downs caught two passes for 18 yards against Minnesota. Seven games into his fourth season, he has 26 receptions for 307 yards and no touchdowns, despite Alec Pierce's absence leaving catches available in the offense.

Pierce went on injured reserve with a heel injury after signing a substantial extension in the offseason. Keenan Allen has been another target for Daniel Jones, but Indianapolis has struggled to get enough from its passing game to rescue the season.A third-round selection from North Carolina in 2023, Downs has done much of his work from the slot. He finished last season with 58 catches, 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games.

There is a difference between moving him and parting with Nelson or Buckner: Downs is 25, with his second NFL contract still ahead of him. A buyer would be weighing what he could provide beyond the remaining games this fall.Schultz's report identified calls from interested teams, without naming a completed deal. The deadline is November 10.