Josh Downs missed the Colts’ practice Saturday with a groin injury, and that news just dropped like a ton of bricks for Indy fans. This isn’t just a minor setback either, because this team is already reeling from another major hit to their wide receiver depth.
The Receiver Room Is Getting Thin Already
It’s one thing to have a starter miss practice, but Downs’ absence is compounded by the fact that Alec Pierce hasn’t seen the field at all this summer. Pierce is stuck on the physically unable to perform list after ankle surgery during the offseason, and head coach Shane Steichen was pretty clear earlier this week: there’s absolutely no timetable for his return. So, you’ve got one key guy out indefinitely, and now another top target is sidelined with a groin issue. What a start to the season, right?
Who Steps Up? The Immediate Answer Is…
With Downs and Pierce both out, the Colts had to scramble to find first-team wideouts for Saturday’s session. Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Anthony Gould were the guys working with the starters. While it’s great for those players to get reps, it highlights a serious concern about the overall depth and health at a crucial position. The Colts haven’t given any more info on Downs’ injury, so we’re all just left wondering how long he’ll be out or how serious this groin issue really is. That kind of silence never feels good.
The clock is ticking, and having two key wideouts sidelined with no clear return date for either has to be a massive headache for the Colts’ coaching staff. They’ll need Dulin, Westbrook-Ikhine, and Gould to really step up, because right now, this receiver corps is looking like it’s got some serious questions heading into the season.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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