The Kansas City Chiefs have a new offensive player after acquiring wide receiver Josh Downs in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL trade deadline. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Rashee Rice, and linebacker Nick Bolton all weighed in on the addition this week.

The 25-year-old Downs (listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds) is a former third-round draft pick out of North Carolina, selected by Indianapolis in the 2023 NFL draft. He spent three and a half seasons with the Colts, recording 198 receptions for 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns in 47 games and 28 starts.

Downs brings a much-needed element to a Kansas City passing game that has struggled at receiver since WR Tyquan Thornton’s injury.

Andy Reid isn’t committing to a specific role for Josh Downs in Week 10

As Kansas City prepares to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 of the 2026 NFL season, Reid took the podium to discuss the move. A big question that hangs over any in-season addition is how long it takes to get up to speed in Reid’s complex offensive scheme. That has been one of the more frustrating themes of his tenure. New players added during the season don’t have the same runway to master his offense, which often limits their role.

Reid said the team considered all of that when deciding which players to pursue at the deadline.

“They’ve got to have some aptitude,” Reid said. “They’ve got to be smart and some capacity there to learn quickly. And so when Brett (Veach) was going through and looking at different people, he kept that in mind for sure. (Brett Veach) knows exactly what it takes to be able to function in this thing, especially if you bring a guy in that needs to get in there and do his thing. That’s why you make trades and so on. So, that’s what we felt about Josh: That he has that ability, and now it’s just a matter of him spending the time to knock it out. But he’s a pretty alert kid. I think you guys will see that when you have a chance to visit with him.”

While the Chiefs believe Downs has the ability, Reid isn’t committing to a specific snap count or role against Atlanta. He plans to play it by ear and see how Downs handles it.

“He’ll blend in with the other guys, but his strengths are his quickness and speed, and he knows how to set routes up,” Reid said. “He does that very well. We saw that firsthand, which is what I was going to say before.

Reid does know Downs has strengths that should add to an already talented receiver room. He pointed to route running, specifically on option routes, as one of his biggest strengths. Reid believes that piece will come with time, because Downs and Mahomes need to get on the same page before Kansas City can lean on it.

“That’s what he’s been great at, all the option routes,” Reid said. “So, but you got to be coordinated with the quarterback, and then you’ve got to have that in as a play. So, got to see where it all goes the next couple of days here, and I just want to get on the field with both of them and see how they handle one another there. I’m anticipating good things. I’m not trying to sign a negative here. It’s just that this is fresh.”

While Reid expects good things from Downs, he won’t know what type of impact the receiver will have until he sees him in action. Everything he’s seen so far, however, gives him great confidence in what’s to come.

Patrick Mahomes sees a quick fit for Josh Downs

Mahomes reacted almost instantly to the trade, posting a clock emoji on X while quoting Downs’ own reaction to the news. His excitement goes beyond Downs’ on-field talent. Mahomes also likes what the receiver brings as a person and as a culture fit in Kansas City.

“Always exciting to add another player, adding someone that’s been productive in this league, and that can really help out,” Mahomes said. “And from meeting Josh (Downs) today. I mean, really, just the mindset that he has. I can tell he’s gonna fit in that room perfectly, and really help us continue to get better and better as we kind of continue down the stretch here. So I’m excited for that as well.”

As for getting Downs up to speed, Mahomes said it all starts on the practice field with repetitions. The two will also put in work in the film room and keep up constant communication. Mahomes has faith that Downs can pick things up quickly because he can already see that Downs is a pro.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously a lot of reps, getting a lot of reps talking through kind of what he thinks he does best and trying to put him in those positions,” Mahomes said. “And then in the film room, I’m sure he’ll get a lot of work with Coach O’Shea, but just having those communications with him there and seeing stuff like that. But like I said, he’s a professional. You can just tell, but from talking to him, that he understands it, and that we’ll just try to put him in the best position to succeed this week, and then we’ll continue to add to that as the year goes on.”

Mahomes and Rashee Rice excited for what Downs will bring to the field

On the field, Mahomes believes Downs’ ability to win one-on-one matchups can be a game changer. He also sees a player who has repeatedly shown off his football IQ.

“I mean, he does a great job of winning one-on-one matchups, which is always important,”
Mahomes said. “He runs routes really well. He sets them up really well, where he will run a route early in the game that he sets up for another one later in the game. And then he has really good feel. You can tell. I mean, obviously, playing in the system they have, he has a lot of read-type routes. You can tell he knows how to get himself open, settle in the right zones, and win versus man when he can. And so I think it’ll be an easy transition for him to kind of do that stuff in our offense, and then with how we do things, he can play a lot of different positions as we move receivers and tight ends around.”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rice revealed that he has a personal relationship with Downs. The two entered the league together in the 2023 NFL Draft, worked out together leading up to the draft, and have continued training together during the offseason.

That familiarity could help Downs make an impact faster.

“I think he’s going to be a great weapon to be able to add to the weapons that we already have,” Rice said. “He’s a great player. You can watch his film and see that for yourself. I think we’re going to find — Coach Reid, EB (Eric Bieniemy) — They’re going to find the best ways to make sure he contributes to the offense as best as he can.”

What exactly does Rice think Downs’ presence will do for the offense? He views Downs as a force multiplier, someone who will make every player on that side of the ball better.

“It’s going to do a lot,” Rice said. “It’s going to do a lot for the whole offense. He’s going to be downfield, middle field, shallow routes, whatever, wherever he has to, you know, run his play. It’s even going to open up the run game just because we got a lot more weapons for Pat to throw the ball, so it’s going to be, you know, just a lot more confidence in the receiver room as well.”

Nick Bolton provides a defender’s perspective on Josh Downs

The offensive players weren’t the only ones to speak about Downs. Bolton, who helped bring the receiver to Kansas City by restructuring his contract, also spoke to reporters on Wednesday. He discussed how the Chiefs prepared to face Downs back in Week 2, when the Colts came to Arrowhead Stadium.

“Yeah, we went into that game understanding the type of player he is and what he can do versus man coverage and work his way in the slot and zone,” Bolton said. “So, obviously, I think there are some things that he can bring to this team, which is why you run them in, but just a lot of work in the slot, and I thought he was pretty shifty, able to run out the catch, getting the ball fast out in space, runs the different routes, and kind of breaks leverage and stuff like that. So, I think it’ll be good for our offense.”

Downs, of course, led Indy in receiving with seven catches on nine targets for 72 yards back in Week 2. Even without playing a snap in Kansas City, he already has more receiving yards than any wideout on the team.

There’s a lot of optimism about this move inside the building. The coaches seem genuinely excited, even if they aren’t trying to get ahead of themselves. The players understand exactly how Downs fits, and what they’ve seen from him in a short time gives them confidence he can contribute quickly. With only nine games left in the regular season, the Chiefs will need Downs to get going fast.