Colts coach Shane Steichen said Sunday he is hopeful that Downs (ankle) will be available for the start of the regular season, but his timeline for a return is still unclear, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain during practice Aug. 7. While he shed his walking boot last Thursday, the 23-year-old still seems to have some way to go before Indianapolis' season opener versus Houston on Sunday, Sept. 8. Downs is coming off a breakout rookie season with 68 catches for 771 yards across 17 regular-season games. Should Downs miss time, then Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will be next in line to play alongside top wideout Michael Pittman.

Downs no longer has a boot on his injured left ankle as he'd previously been using a boot or scooter at practice, Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated reports. Downs did not play in Thursday's preseason game.

EDGE Analysis

Downs suffered a left high-ankle sprain during an Aug. 7 practice and was expected to miss four-to-six weeks. It's not clear if he'll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, but the lack of a boot on his ankle is a positive sign.

An MRI confirmed that Downs suffered a left high-ankle sprain during Wednesday's practice, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Downs' recovery time could fall in the 4-to-6-week range, though the Colts are hopeful that the wideout will be ready to go around the shorter end of the estimate. In any case, Downs' status for the Colts' Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Texans could be affected. if so, added opportunities would be available early on for fellow wideouts Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce behind No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman.

Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain during Wednesday's practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Fowler, the initial outlook is that Downs could miss about a month, but that's not yet a concrete estimate, as the Colts are currently working to establish a timeline for the receiver's return. In any case, Downs' Week 1 status will be worth monitoring closely, and if he's out or limited early on this season, Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce could see added opportunities alongside Michael Pittman.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said after Wednesday's practice that he's unsure of the severity of Downs' ankle injury, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs reportedly didn't put much weight on his injured leg when he was helped off the field earlier Wednesday. Initial reports were pessimistic, potentially creating a hurdle for a young wide receiver to overcome heading into his second season. Downs recorded a 68-771-2 receiving line on 98 targets last season, mostly working out of the slot after Indianapolis took him 79th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Downs left Wednesday's practice with an apparent lower leg or ankle injury, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs reportedly wasn't putting any weight on his injured leg when he was helped off the field to the medical tent. He'll likely miss the rest of practice, potentially freeing up more reps for Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce and/or Ashton Dulin.

Downs caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in Saturday's 23-19 loss to the Texans.

EDGE Analysis

Downs paced the Colts in receiving yards in the season finale, wrapping up his rookie campaign with 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns on 98 targets. His steady involvement in the passing attack down the stretch should bode well for Downs as he continues to grow into his role within the Indianapolis offense heading into Year 2. Quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) should return to full health for the 2024 season, which could bolster the outlooks for Downs and the Colts' other passing-game weapons.

Downs caught two passes for 52 yards on two targets in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Raiders.

EDGE Analysis

Gardner Minshew threw only 20 targeted passes Sunday, so Downs' usage was quite low despite the impressive explosiveness. Downs tends to line up in the slot for Indianapolis, and the Raiders' best corner is slot man Nate Hobbs, so it makes sense that the rookie would struggle to get open consistently in this setting. His Week 18 matchup with Houston might be a more favorable matchup, though the Colts' run-heavy offense tends to leave little for Downs and Alec Pierce after WR1 Michael Pittman gets his targets.

Downs brought in six of nine targets for 39 yards in the Colts' 29-10 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Downs led the Colts in receptions and targets in the absence of Michael Pittman (concussion), but that didn't add up to much on the yardage front. The speedy rookie hasn't topped 40 receiving yards in any of the last four games, and he hasn't been over 43 since Week 8. Even if Pittman is sidelined again in Week 17 against the Raiders, Downs isn't a sure bet to benefit by any stretch.

Downs had three catches (on three targets) for 19 yards and three punt returns for 38 yards during Saturday's 30-13 victory versus the Steelers.

EDGE Analysis

The pleasant special-teams performance aside, Downs missed out on a prime opportunity to produce on offense after Michael Pittman departed with a concussion midway through the second quarter. Instead of turning his focus to the Colts' No. 2 wide receiver, quarterback Gardner Minshew spread the ball around to eight different players among his 18 completions, and only one of Downs' targets occurred after Pittman's exit. Considering Pittman will be subject to the protocol for head injuries in order to gain clearance for his next game action, Downs technically has a chance to for an increased role Sunday, Dec. 24 in Atlanta if the former isn't able to play.