Colts WR Josh Downs (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. He practiced all week, including a full workout on Friday. But HC Shane Steichen has labeled him a game-time decision. Downs shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups in his first game off a high-ankle sprain. But his return would threaten the playing time of WR Alec Pierce and, especially, WR Adonai Mitchell.
Colts WR Josh Downs (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Texans. He officially didn’t practice all week but was seen sprinting on Friday. We’ll see if Downs can make it back from his high-ankle sprain for Week 2. Michael Pittman, Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce will operate as Indianapolis’ clear top three WRs this weekend.
Colts WR Josh Downs (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. He's four weeks removed from suffering a high-ankle sprain and seems unlikely to be ready for Sunday's opener vs. the Texans. We'll continue to track Downs' status and see if he can make it back for Week 2.
Colts WR Josh Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain in Wednesday's practice, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "The outlook right now is that Downs could miss about a month, but the Colts are sorting that out," Fowler adds.
Colts WR Josh Downs suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's training camp session, HC Shane Steichen said. Downs was tackled by S Nick Cross in 7-on-7 work and had to be helped off the field, putting no weight on his injured ankle, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.
The Athletic's James Boyd says that Colts WR Alec Pierce has looked much better in team drills than rookie WR Adonai Mitchell. The two are likely battling for one of the outside spots, and it doesn't sound like Mitchell's off to a great start.
The Colts selected Texas WR Adonai Mitchell in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. The 6’2, 205-pounder registered a 4.34-second 40 time and 39.5-inch vertical at the Combine. It earned him a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score that ranks 5th out of 3,402 WRs from 1987 to 2024. Mitchell’s college production never matched that size-athleticism combo, though. He totaled just 38 catches in 21 games for Georgia across 2021 and 2022, with a left high-ankle sprain ruining his sophomore season. Mitchell transferred to Texas this past year and set career highs with 55 catches, 845 yards, and 11 TDs. But he ranked a distant second to WR Xavier Worthy in catches and yards and underwhelmed in advanced metrics. Among 286 WRs with 50+ targets last year, Mitchell ranked just 98th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 179th in yards per route. His raw athleticism shows up on deep balls and contested catches, but the tape also shows below-average play strength and inconsistent effort. The ceiling here is undoubtedly high if everything clicks. But the floor is also scary-low. We’ve seen plenty of big, hyper-athletic WRs bust. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mitchell also didn’t interview well in the pre-draft process. With the Colts, he’ll enter training camp as the favorite to play on the outside over Alec Pierce. Even if he wins that role, Mitchell will profile as a volatile best ball pick.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. returned from missing Week 16 with a shoulder injury to regain control of the team's receiving in Sunday's win over the Raiders. Pittman posted an unimpressive 5-46 receiving line on 7 targets. But he drew a target on 30.4% of the team's pass attempts and claimed 33.3% of Colts completions. WR Alec Pierce took his lone catch for a 58-yard TD to lead the team in receiving yards. Rookie WR Josh Downs followed with 53 yards on just 2 receptions. QB Gardner Minshew attempted just 23 passes, completing 15 for 224 yards on a day that found Indy running on more than half of its offensive plays. Pittman looks like the only startable Colts pass-catcher for most fantasy formats in Week 18. Indy faces Houston, which allowed Pittman 8 receptions back in Week 2. Pittman also caught 8+ passes in six straight full outings before the Week 15 game he left early.
Colts WR Michael Pittman has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Falcons. Pittman cleared concussion protocol on Friday but was experiencing symptoms again when the team arrived in Atlanta, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. We'll track Pittman's status this coming week and see if he can make it back for next Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. His absence leaves Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and D.J. Montgomery as Indianapolis' top three WRs against the Falcons.
Colts WR Alec Pierce (ankle) is active for today’s game vs. the Patriots. He was a full-go in Friday’s practice and should be ready for his usual role today. Pierce could pick up a little extra volume with WR Josh Downs banged up but is really only an option in one-game DFS contests.
Colts WR Josh Downs (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday morning’s game vs. the Patriots. He re-injured his knee last Sunday and then didn’t practice at all this week, so we’d be surprised if Downs ends up playing. He should be on fantasy benches for now. WR Alec Pierce (ankle) is also listed as questionable but should play after getting in a full practice on Friday.
Colts WR Alec Pierce (shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Browns. He’s averaging just 3.7 targets, 1.8 catches, and 25 yards per game so far this season.
Colts WR Alec Pierce (shoulder) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Browns. He got in a full practice on Friday, so he should play. But Pierce is not a viable fantasy play against Cleveland’s top-ranked WR defense.
Colts WR Alec Pierce (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday. Although a full-time player, Pierce has totaled just 11 catches on 22 targets through six games, so his absence vs. the Browns this weekend wouldn't have a major fantasy impact.
We knew WR Alec Pierce brought downfield speed when the Colts drafted him in Round 2 last April. His 12.2-yard average depth of target led the team in his rookie campaign. Pierce's 16.8-yard college aDOT says that number could rise even higher. And new QB Anthony Richardson specialized in deep passing as a collegian. According to Pro Football Focus, Richardson ranked 25th among 148 qualifying FBS QBs last year in total deep attempts (20+ yards downfield), 20th in deep-passing grade and 16th in deep-passing yards. We'll see about the pass-run split between the strong-running rookie QB and the new coaching staff. But Pierce is a low-risk option in best ball drafts at his later-round ADP. Read more about him and see where he sits in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.
Colts beat writer Kevin Bowen considers WR Josh Downs “the ideal slot receiver complement.” While Michael Pittman will kick inside some, Downs’ path to playing in 3-WR sets (with Alec Pierce) looks clear. Bowen adds that the rookie showed a “strong early connection” with QB Anthony Richardson, with Downs “easily creating space in those short areas of the field.” Colts area scout Chad Henry shared the same sentiment. “He’s a playmaker,” Henry said of Downs. “We don’t have a whole lot of guys like him. He’s sort of a human chain mover. Good luck covering him in a short area.” Downs missed part of the spring with a knee issue, but all indications suggest it’s minor. Depending on the play of Richardson, Downs could become a deep-league PPR spot starter. For now, though, he’s not someone to circle on your cheat sheet.
Colts WR Alec Pierce admitted that he hit the rookie wall in 2022. “I don’t know if I necessarily felt it. But I think looking back on the film [late in the season], I did feel like I just wasn’t moving as good as I was early in the season.” While bad QB play factored in, Pierce mustered only nine catches for 82 yards over the final month. The second-year deep threat also noted an offseason area of emphasis. “I definitely needed to work more on my route-running at the top of routes, creating separation,” Pierce said. He projects as a full-time outside WR for new HC Shane Steichen, but we’re not expecting Indy to resemble a pass-happy offense. Pierce isn’t someone we’re looking to aggressively target in best ball leagues — even with an ADP past WR70.
The Colts have named Jim Bob Cooter their new OC. He turned in 3 generally underwhelming seasons as Lions OC from 2016-2018, with finishes of 21st, 13th and 24th in total yards. Cooter then bounced to Jets RBs coach to Eagles "consultant" to Jaguars passing-game coordinator this past year, playing a part in QB Trevor Lawrence's breakout season. Cooter will work under offensive-minded HC Shane Steichen in Indianapolis. Steichen is expected to call plays, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer.
Shane Steichen is set to be named the Colts' HC, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rumors of the move gained steam in the days leading up to the Eagles' Super Bowl loss, and Steichen is flying to Indianapolis on Monday afternoon to finalize the deal. The 37-year-old spent the past 2 seasons as Philadelphia's OC under HC Nick Sirianni, helping the Eagles to 14th- and then 3rd-place finishes in total yards. Prior to that, he spent the 2020 campaign as Chargers OC, leading that team to a 9th-place finish in yards with rookie QB Justin Herbert. With the 4th overall pick of this spring's draft, there's a good chance that Steichen is again working with a rookie signal-caller in 2023. Shoddy QB play left the Colts among the bottom 6th in both points and total yards last year. But they have an elite RB in Jonathan Taylor and a young, developing WR corps led by Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.
Colts WR Michael Pittman caught 10 balls for 60 yards in Saturday's OT loss to the Vikings. He drew 14 targets, accounting for 42.4% of Indy's total pass attempts. No other Colt drew more than 4 looks or exceeded 2 receptions. WRs Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce tied for 2nd in targets. Campbell caught 2 balls for 13 yards. Pierce went catchless. The Colts finish up with the Chargers and Giants the next 2 weeks.
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