Despite allowing the most points in the NFL, first-year head coach Shane Steichen has choreographed an explosive offense in his first season. Indianapolis ranks sixth scoring 25.6 points per game and eighth with 362.4 total yards per game. The Colts are the only NFL team to score 20 points in every game, which is the first time Indianapolis has accomplished this feat through eight games since 2014.
“It’s been impressive for a young player,” Steichen told reporters after Wednesday’s walk-through practice. “Obviously, we are halfway through the year and we’ve got a lot of football left, but the way he prepares every week. Just even the off days being in here watching film, getting treatment on his own, catching footballs on the jugs machine. It’s impressive. I think when you do that throughout your career, that is how you get better and that is how you climb.
Downs’ father, Gary, was a third-round pick by the New York Giants in the 1994 NFL Draft and played seven NFL seasons as a running back. Dre Bly, Gary’s brother-in-law and Josh’s uncle, was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in the 1999 NFL Draft and played 11 seasons, including two Pro Bowl campaigns with the Detroit Lions in 2003-04. Bly was the cornerbacks coach at his alma mater when Downs played at UNC from 2020-22. Downs set single season records with 101 receptions and 1,335 receiving yards in 2021 and finished his collegiate career second in program history in touchdowns, third in receptions and fourth in receiving yards.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich spent 11 seasons coaching the Colts, including the five seasons as the head coach. Under Reich, the Colts posted a 40-33-1 record and made two postseason appearances. Indianapolis aims to end its three-game losing streak in Sunday’s Week 9 road game against Carolina (1-6).