Josh Downs: Bio, Career, Stats, Awards & 2026 Season

Josh Downs is an NFL wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. Born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, Downs built his name at North Gwinnett High School before becoming a standout player at North Carolina. The Colts selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Downs is known for his quick routes, reliable hands and ability to find open space. He has also contributed as a punt returner. After three NFL seasons, he remains with the Colts in 2026 and continues to play a role in the team’s offense and special teams.

Josh Downs Information

Full Name

Joshua Downs

Known As

Josh Downs

Date of Birth

August 12, 2001

Birthplace

Suwanee, Georgia, USA

Nationality

American

Position

Wide Receiver

Current Club / Team

Indianapolis Colts

Jersey Number

No. 2

Height

5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Weight

171 lb (78 kg)

Playing Role

Wide Receiver / Punt Returner

Previous Club / Team

None — Indianapolis Colts is his NFL team since the 2023 Draft

College / Academy

University of North Carolina

Draft / Debut Year

2023

Career Status

Active

Official Profile

Indianapolis Colts Player Profile

Career of Josh Downs

Season	Club / Team	Apps	Starts	Receptions	Receiving Yards	Touchdowns
2020	North Carolina Tar Heels	10	—	7	119	3
2021	North Carolina Tar Heels	13	12	101	1,335	8
2022	North Carolina Tar Heels	11	11	94	1,029	11
2023	Indianapolis Colts	17	9	68	771	2
2024	Indianapolis Colts	14	8	72	803	5
2025	Indianapolis Colts	16	11	58	566	4
2026*	Indianapolis Colts	2	—	9	109	0

History of Josh Downs

Early Life

Josh Downs was born on August 12, 2001, in Suwanee, Georgia. He grew up around football and attended North Gwinnett High School, where he quickly became one of the team’s top offensive players.

At North Gwinnett, Downs finished his high school career with 187 receptions for 3,019 yards and 32 touchdowns. His strong play earned him a spot in the 2020 All-American Bowl and helped put him on the radar of major college football programs.

Downs chose to continue his football career at the University of North Carolina. His smaller frame was not a major issue because he brought quickness, strong hands and the ability to create separation from defenders.

College / Youth Career

Downs joined the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2020. As a freshman, he played in 10 games and caught seven passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns. He also showed his big-play ability in the Orange Bowl, catching four passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

His biggest jump came in 2021. Downs became North Carolina’s main receiving target and finished the season with 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. The 101 receptions and 1,335 receiving yards both became UNC single-season records.

He continued that production in 2022. Downs caught 94 passes for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing in 11 games. He led the ACC in receptions, receiving yards, receptions per game and receiving yards per game that season. He was also named first-team All-ACC and received major All-American recognition.

Downs finished his North Carolina career with 202 receptions, 2,483 receiving yards and 22 touchdown catches. He became one of only three players in UNC history to record more than 200 career receptions.

Professional Career

The Indianapolis Colts selected Josh Downs in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 79th overall pick. That selection gave Downs his chance to move from a standout college receiver into the NFL.

Downs made an immediate impact during his rookie season. In 17 games, he caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns. He finished second on the Colts in receiving that year and quickly became an important part of the team’s passing game.

His 2024 season was another step forward. Downs played 14 games and set career highs with 72 receptions, 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also returned punts for the Colts, showing that his value was not limited to offense.

In 2025, Downs played all 16 games and recorded 58 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned eight punts for 68 yards.

Current Club

As of September 2026, Josh Downs remains with the Indianapolis Colts and wears No. 2. The Colts listed him on their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, and the team’s current roster lists him as a wide receiver.

Downs is also being used as the Colts’ primary punt returner. The team’s current depth chart lists him at wide receiver and punt returner, giving him a role on both offense and special teams.

Through the first two regular-season games of 2026, Downs had nine receptions for 109 yards. He caught two passes for 37 yards against Baltimore in Week 1 and followed that with seven catches for 72 yards against Kansas City in Week 2.

For the Colts, Downs’ role is built around his quickness, route running and ability to make plays after the catch. His experience as both a receiver and returner also gives Indianapolis another way to use him during the season.

Career Statistics

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Key Stats
2023	Indianapolis Colts	17	9	68 receptions, 771 receiving yards, 2 TDs
2024	Indianapolis Colts	14	8	72 receptions, 803 receiving yards, 5 TDs
2025	Indianapolis Colts	16	11	58 receptions, 566 receiving yards, 4 TDs
2026*	Indianapolis Colts	2	0	9 receptions, 109 receiving yards, 0 TDs

* 2026 season is through Week 2. The Colts’ official statistics list Downs with 2 games, 9 receptions, 109 receiving yards and 0 touchdowns.

Career NFL total through Week 2 of 2026: 49 games, 28 starts, 207 receptions, 2,249 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.

Player Honours & Awards

Year	Award / Honour	Team / Club
2021	First-team All-ACC	North Carolina Tar Heels
2022	First-team All-ACC	North Carolina Tar Heels
2022	First-team All-American	North Carolina Tar Heels
2022	ACC Wide Receiver of the Year	North Carolina Tar Heels

Playing Style / Role

Josh Downs is a quick and reliable wide receiver who has mainly played from the slot during his NFL career. His biggest strength is creating space quickly and giving the quarterback an open target. He is also known for his sharp route running and ability to make plays after the catch.

Category	Josh Downs
Position	Wide Receiver
Playing Role	Primarily a slot receiver, with opportunities to play outside
Strengths	Quickness, route running, separation, reliable hands
Key Abilities	Getting open quickly, finding space in coverage, making short and intermediate catches
After the Catch	Uses quick movement and agility to gain extra yards
Special Teams Role	Punt returner
Role in 2026	Expected to have a bigger role in the Colts passing game

For the 2026 season, the Colts planned to give Downs more opportunities in the offense. The team has also looked at using him in more outside-receiver situations instead of keeping him only in the slot.

Through the first two regular-season games of 2026, Downs had 9 receptions for 109 yards.

Overall, Downs’ role is centered on getting open, moving the chains and giving the Colts a dependable target underneath and across the middle of the field. His ability to play both receiver and punt returner also gives Indianapolis another way to use him on game day.

Major Career Moments

First Professional Game

Josh Downs made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. In his first regular-season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he made his first NFL start and finished with three receptions for 30 yards.

First NFL Touchdown

Downs scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 6 of the 2023 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew, giving him his first NFL score.

Breakout College Season

Downs had his first major college breakout in 2021 at North Carolina. He caught 101 passes for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns, setting UNC single-season records for receptions and receiving yards at the time.

He followed that with another 1,000-yard season in 2022, finishing with 94 catches, 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also named first-team All-ACC and became a two-time All-ACC selection.

Major NFL Performance

One of Downs’ biggest NFL games came against the Houston Texans in Week 8 of the 2024 season. He caught four passes for 109 yards, including a career-long 69-yard touchdown reception. It was his second career 100-yard receiving game.

NFL Career Milestone

Downs made an early mark in Colts history during his rookie season. His 68 receptions in 2023 became the most by a Colts rookie in a single season. He later set another team milestone in 2024 by recording the most receptions by a Colts player through his first two seasons, passing Marvin Harrison’s previous mark.

2026 Career Update

In 2026, Downs entered his fourth NFL season with the Colts. Through the first two regular-season games, he had recorded nine receptions for 109 yards. His role also continued to include work as a punt returner.

Current Team & 2026 Season

Josh Downs is currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2026 NFL season. He is a wide receiver and wears No. 2. He also works as a punt returner for the Colts.

Category	Information
2026 Season	2026 NFL Season
Current Team	Indianapolis Colts
Position	Wide Receiver
Jersey Number	No. 2
2026 Statistics	9 receptions, 109 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns*
Recent Achievement	Recorded 7 catches for 72 yards in Week 2
Current Role	Wide receiver and punt returner

*Statistics are through Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.

Downs continues to be part of the Colts’ receiving group in 2026. His quickness and route running are important parts of his role, while his punt-return work gives the team another way to use him on game day.

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