INDIANAPOLIS – There likely will be a new face in the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive huddle Sunday.
To be more accurate, a familiar face with a new look.
Josh Downs appears on track to make his first appearance of the season and the team’s slot receiver decided to become a tad more aerodynamic.
While rehabbing a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss the first two games, he cut his hair.
“I didn’t want to start the season with hair, then cut it off midway through, so . . . new me,’’ Downs said Wednesday. “So, cut it off now, get a full week of practice in and hopefully play this weekend.’’
The dreads are gone, but it’s debatable if that adds any speed considering, you know, he wears a helmet.
But Downs is eager to rejoin an offense that needs his diverse skillset. The 5-9, 171-pounder not only represents a catch-and-run threat over the middle, but could help remedy the Colts’ situational troubles. They’ve converted just 9-of-23 times on third and fourth downs.
“I mean, obviously you guys know he’s a great piece to our offense, a great weapon to have,’’ Anthony Richardson said. “Just having him back, that’d be great for us. Just get more guys involved.’’
Downs set a club rookie record with 68 receptions last season.
He suffered the high ankle sprain in training camp Aug. 7 when he was tackled by safety Nick Cross. Downs was on track to play last Sunday at Green Bay – he was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday and full Friday – but the team decided to give the ankle another week to heal.
“It was more so just up in the air going throughout the week,’’ he said. “But Shane (Steichen) and (Chris) Ballard just thought it was best I didn’t (play). I’ve got to thank them for taking care of me and we’ll just go this week.’’
Playing against the Bears, he added, “is the plan, God willing. Get through this week healthy and get my first game this weekend.’’
Run defense ‘unacceptable’
There was no lack of adjectives to describe the Colts’ run defense after two games.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin: “It’s ridiculous. It’s unacceptable. It starts with myself. I have to be better.’’
Nose tackle Grover Stewart: “It’s disappointing, man. I’m like, ‘C’mon now.’ I have to calm myself down sometimes when I see it.’’
What Stewart and Franklin see are staggering numbers against the run in the losses to Houston and Green Bay: 474 yards, last in the league. Carolina is next at 399 yards allowed on the ground.
It’s the third-most yards allowed in consecutive games in the Indy era. The defense yielded at least 200 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 and just the third time since 1984.
Houston’s Joe Mixon piled up 159 yards in the opener and Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs piled on for 151.
The last time the Colts allowed runners to crack the 100-yard mark in three straight games: weeks 5-7 of 2016 (the Bears’ Jordan Howard, Houston’s Lamar Miller and the Titans’ DeMarco Murray).
It’s hard to imagine the Bears doing the type of damage done by Houston and Green Bay, but they almost certainly will try.
The Colts will be without defensive cornerstone DeForest Buckner, who was placed on the injured reserve list and will miss at least the next four games with an ankle injury, and the status of rookie end Laiatu Latu is uncertain. Latu missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a hip injury.
Steward admitted the d-line’s depth will be tested until Buckner returns.
“We’ll have a couple of guys playing different spots,’’ he said.
Perhaps coordinator Gus Bradley will consider moving Dayo Odeyingbo from end to Buckner’s 3-technique spot.
It will help if the Colts clean up their tackling. They’ve been credited with 15 missed tackles in two games, including nine against the Packers.
Safety Nick Cross not only is the team’s leading tackler with 29 but also is setting the pace in the NFL.
Kicker issue?
Matt Gay returned as a full participant in Thursday’s practice after being held out the previous day with an injury to his right quadriceps.
According to media members attending the open portion of practice, Gay converted all of his field goal attempts, including two 50-plus-yarders.
The veteran kicker missed the opener after undergoing sports hernia surgery. He returned last week at Green Bay and converted a 34-yarder but pulled a 50-yarder wide left.
Gay indicated the quad issue was related to the hernia issue.
“The body is complex,’’ he said prior to Thursday’s practice. “You get one injury and certain things start to overcompensate in other ways. You just want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to get on the field. But I feel good. Body feels good to go.’’
Does Gay anticipate kicking against the Bears?
“I leave that decision up to trainers and coaches,’’ he said. “I feel good.’’
If Gay is unable to kick, rookie Spencer Shrader will be elevated to the active roster from the practice squad.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.