While head coach Shane Steichen wasn't ready to rule out Josh Downs yet, the Colts are preparing for the possibility they'll be without one of their top targets on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Downs sustained a shoulder injury in the Colts' Week 12 loss to the Detroit Lions, and while he returned to the game, he did not participate in the Colts' Wednesday walkthrough at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
"I think it's going to be tough for him this week," Steichen said. "Not ruling him out, but could be tough for him this week."
Downs leads the Colts in targets (78) and receptions (53), and his 594 receiving yards are second only to Alec Pierce. When Downs missed Weeks 1 and 2 of the season with an ankle injury, rookie Adonai Mitchell played 64 and 59 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps, respectively, while Ashton Dulin played 24 and 43 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps in those games. Dulin exited last weekend's game against the Lions with an ankle injury and did not participate in practice Wednesday, though Steichen said he's "doing all right."
More than half of Mitchell's season total of snaps lined up in the slot – where Downs primarily plays – came in those first two weeks of the season (34/57). Mitchell has 20 catches on 40 targets for 254 yards this season; his most productive game was in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, when he caught all six targets for 71 yards with wide receiver Michael Pittman out with a back injury.
Wide receiver Alec Pierce (foot) did not participate in Wednesday's walkthrough, but Steichen said "he should be all right."
Center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday's walkthrough as well.
The Colts did get some encouraging news on Wednesday with left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) being listed as limited in their first practice report of Week 13. Raimann sustained a knee injury in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills and has not participated in practice since.
Wednesday's practice report:
