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Colts Wide Receiver Josh Downs Requests Trade as Indianapolis Rebuild Continues

Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs asked to be traded on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, a day after the Colts traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers are among the teams reported to have interest, with the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching.

By admin Oct. 28, 2026 · 8:49 PM ET 2 min read

A football player in a plain black uniform and helmet catching a football on a lit stadium field at night, seen from behind

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday. NBC Sports and Athlon Sports also reported the request, which comes as the Colts reshape their roster ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.

Downs, 25, was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has 26 catches for 307 yards in seven games this season and has not scored a touchdown. For his career, he has 224 catches for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns.

An empty concrete stadium tunnel opening onto a green football field

A day after two cornerstone trades

The request came one day after Indianapolis traded guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. The Colts are 2-5 and fired general manager Chris Ballard earlier in October, and interim general manager Ed Dodds is now running the personnel department.

Downs is in the final year of his rookie contract, which also applied to Nelson and Buckner. NBC Sports noted that his contract status had already put him on lists of players Indianapolis could move before the deadline.

A football resting on grass on a football field with yard lines and a blurred crowd behind it

Where Downs could land

Athlon Sports reported that Kansas City has been looking for help at wide receiver, with Rashee Rice out with a hamstring injury and Tyquan Thornton expected to miss an extended period with an ankle injury. The Chiefs have leaned on Xavier Worthy, according to Athlon Sports. Fowler also linked the Pittsburgh Steelers to Downs, according to Athlon Sports.

A trade request does not guarantee a move, and it does not guarantee a move to any one team.

A football player in a plain dark uniform running on a practice field, seen from behind

When reporters asked Downs about the report Wednesday, he did not confirm or deny a request. “I’m open to whatever,” he said, according to the New York Post. “Whatever comes my way, comes my way. We go from there.” He added: “I’m here right now. I’m where my feet are. We got the Jags this weekend. I’m in the game plan so I gotta be ready to go.”

Reporting based on coverage by NBC Sports, Athlon Sports and the New York Post.

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