The Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for fourth- and fifth-round draft picks, ESPN Deportes reported.
Under the terms of the transaction, the Indianapolis Colts also sent a seventh-round draft selection along with Josh Downs to Kansas City.
“Estoy sumamente agradecido y bendecido por mi tiempo en Indy. Solo siento cariño por ‘The Shoe’,” publicó Josh Downs on X this Tuesday.
Downs arrives in Kansas City after catching 33 passes for 354 yards and one touchdown through the early portion of the season. His arrival addresses an urgent need for the Chiefs following injuries to wide receiver Xavier Worthy and deep threat Tyquan Thornton.
Offensive Struggles in Kansas City
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City passing game have lacked vertical stretch since Week 4, when the team defeated the Las Vegas Raiders. Mahomes has not completed a pass traveling more than 20 air yards since that matchup.
The situation worsened when Thornton suffered a left ankle dislocation requiring surgery. Last week against the New York Jets, Mahomes averaged just 2.8 air yards per attempt, marking the second-lowest single-game mark of his career, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Worthy aggravated the team’s depth issues by exiting Sunday’s win over the New York Jets late in the fourth quarter with a left hamstring injury. The team’s next game is scheduled for Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta.
Roster Shifts in Indianapolis
Downs had requested a trade from Indianapolis, becoming the second wide receiver traded by the franchise on Tuesday following Keenan Allen’s move to the San Francisco 49ers. Downs is in the final year of his rookie contract after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
With starting wide receiver Alec Pierce sidelined indefinitely, the team will turn to Laquon Treadwell, Ashton Dulin, and rookie Deion Burks.
Indianapolis also elevated veteran Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the practice squad on Tuesday. Tight end Tyler Warren is expected to absorb a larger share of the target distribution moving forward.
Evaluating the Slot Target
Performance dips affected his numbers this year, resulting in a career-low 57.9 catch percentage and two drops during a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He addressed his recent form candidly with reporters after that defeat.
“Hay cosas que debo corregir por mi cuenta,” said Downs.
“Y si no, si deciden canjearme, pues lo harán,” Downs said.
Upcoming Schedule
The Kansas City Chiefs travel to face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta.
