Shane Steichen shared that the Colts are going to experiment with a notable player in a new role next season
Colts plan to test the waters on the possibility of using Josh Downs in a new way next season.
The Indianapolis Colts have undergone some major changes on both sides of the ball through free agency and trades so far this offseason.
The team sent linbacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Colby Wooden. And after locking up Alec Pierce on a new four-year contract, they decided to trade Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Keeping Pierce had to be their top priority, and they decided that keeping him was worth moving on from Pittman Jr. His departure does create a hole at wide receiver for next season, though, and it seems the Colts are interested in trying an outside-the-box option to fill it.
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Shane Steichen confirms that the Colts are going to look into playing Josh Downs out wide more next season
Colts head coach Shane Steichen spoke to the media at the NFL’s annual owners meeting in Arizona and discussed several major topics. One of which was the trade of Pittman Jr., and what that means for their receiving game in 2026. One option on the table that they are going to at least try during OTAs and training camp is giving Josh Downs some run on the outside.
We will look into that (Josh Downs playing outside), we are going to look into that this offseason and see where that goes. But I do believe he (Josh Downs) can, so we will get those reps in OTAs and training camp and go from there.
Shane Steichen
Colts head coach
During the 2025 season, Downs lined up in the slot 448 times and on the outside 141. His career high snap count on the outside came during his rookie season, when he recorded 172 snaps on the outside.
Pittman Jr. lined up on the outside for the Colts during 615 snaps last season, so that’s a lot of snaps that the Colts will now have to fill with someone new. Downs is, without question, the Colts’ second-best wide receiver on the roster behind Pierce, so giving him the first crack at that upgraded role makes sense.
What would Josh Downs on the outside mean for him and the Colts’ offense?
I will say, though, I do think Downs is at his best when lining up in the slot, but Steichen is an incredible play designer, and I think he would find ways to get Downs on the move and into good positions in the middle of the field, no matter if he starts a play on the outside.
The big change here would be the Colts finding a way to get Downs on the field more. During his first three years, he’s been limited to only seeing the field during three or more wide receiver sets, barely being utilized when only two wide receivers are on the field.
That could change now if the Colts find an effective way to use him on the outside during those situations. I do expect he would slide back into the slot, though, during three-wide receiver sets, with another option filling in on the outside, such as Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, or maybe even an upcoming 2026 NFL Draft pick.
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