Indianapolis Colts Top Breakout Candidate in 2026
Newsweek · C · trust 30/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Josh Downs just had one of the worst statistical seasons of his NFL career, finishing with 58 catches for 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games, averaging a career-low 9.8 yards per catch. What's worse, that was despite playing in one of the league's most explosive offenses in 2025.
Downs' yards after catch dropped to just 2.5 per reception , down from 5.5 and 5.6 in each of his first two seasons. That explosiveness is what made him such a YAC weapon at UNC and why the Indianapolis Colts took the 5-foot-9 receiver in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Part of the dropoff can be attributed to the change in quarterback, with starter Daniel Jones going down late in the year with a torn Achilles. Still, that didn't stop Alec Pierce from having a breakout year, posting his first 1,000-yard season, or Michael Pittman Jr. from turning in another productive season, with 784 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns on 80 catches.
But heading into 2026, circumstances have changed for Downs in a way that could set up a real bounce-back year, and potentially the best season of his young career.
The Colts traded Pittman, long Indy's WR1, and rather than bringing in a proven replacement, they mostly stood pat. Pierce earned a new four-year, $114 million extension, but behind him and Downs are names like Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and seventh-round rookie Deion Burks.
It's worth noting that Pittman has drawn at least 111 targets in each of his last five seasons with the Colts, and Pierce has never seen more than the 84 he received last year. Chances are, one of those remaining receivers stands to gain the most from that lost target share — and Downs looks like the likeliest candidate.
Downs is also entering the final year of his rookie contract, which tends to bring out the best in players still trying to secure a big payday — especially after watching Pierce cash in this offseason.
Plus, with Jones still working his way back from a serious injury, he may choose to lean on quicker, underneath completions rather than pushing the ball downfield, which aligns with the shorter, high-percentage routes Downs has thrived on throughout his career.
It feels inevitable that Downs will see more targets in 2026. Now it's on him to make the most of the opportunities and establish himself as one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.
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