close
close

Colts WR likely to be week-to-week with shoulder injury

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Colts WR likely to be week-to-week with shoulder injury

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts may have to temporarily return to life without beloved receiver Anthony Richardson.

Indianapolis slot receiver Josh Downs, who leads the team with 53 receptions this season, has been dealing with a right shoulder injury week after week, a league source confirmed to IndyStar on Monday.

Downs was taken to the ground in the fourth quarter and landed on his right shoulder with the weight of a defender on top of him, and although he was able to return to the game, Downs was clearly in pain, revealing to trainers that the pain was in the inside of his shoulder, near his neck.

Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen did not provide an official update on Downs during his Monday press conference.

“We have a medical meeting this evening,” Steichen said. “I’ll probably tell you more about the other players on Wednesday.”

Steichen admitted he had heard something about Downs, but said he wanted to wait for a formal medical meeting to confirm.

How will Josh Downs be replaced at wide receiver for the Colts?

If Downs misses time, the Colts will have to look for answers at the slot position. When the second-year slot receiver was forced to miss the first two games of the season with a high ankle sprain suffered in training camp, Indianapolis turned to rookie Adonai Mitchell in the slot with mixed results.

Mitchell has improved since then, catching 20 passes for 254 yards to rank fourth on the team, although he has made some questionable decisions as a runner after the catch over the past two weeks.

The reality is the Colts will have to make some changes to their offense if Downs can’t play against New England. Mitchell has excellent separation skills, but his chemistry with starting cornerback Anthony Richardson and his ability to choose the right route adjustments for coverage still needs work.

“Josh was great,” wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. “He’s really picking up the slack. He’s a monster play-first guy who moves our chains and has great success. He always makes some diving catches and I think he has a great future here for a long time.”