Report: Colts WR Josh Downs requests a trade

Published October 28, 2026 12:26 PM Tuesday’s trades of Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner could be just the start of changes to the Colts’ roster. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade. Downs is in the final year of his contract, which is also the case for Nelson and Buckner. That status made Downs a common inclusion on lists of players the Colts could look to deal before the November 10 deadline prior to his request, so this may not cause much of a ripple for interim General Manager Ed Dodds as he tries to build up assets for the future. Downs has 26 catches for 307 yards this season. The 2023 third-round pick has 224 catches for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns for his career. Running back Jonathan Taylor is not in the final year of his contract as he signed a two-year extension this summer, but that hasn’t stopped his name from coming up often in trade chatter. Should both offensive players be moved, it will mark a radical teardown of the roster in Indianapolis that would stand to benefit the Jets as they own the Colts’ first-round pick in the 2027 draft.