"Fire Sale": Steelers Trading For Colts WR Josh Downs Suddenly On The Horizon

The Pittsburgh Steelers sit at 4-2 with a trip to Paris, France on the schedule for Week 7. On Sunday, the team was somehow able to grab a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thanks to a fourth-quarter comeback. One issue plaguing the roster, however, is injuries, specifically to the wide receiving corps. Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are both on Injured Reserve (IR). The veteran who was acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason could even be out for the year. General Manager Omar Khan might have to make a move prior to the trade deadline in November.

The next couple of weeks in the NFL will determine which franchises are planning on buying, and which are giving up on their respective campaigns. One situation to monitor is actually in Indianapolis. The Colts fired their general manager Chris Ballard on Monday morning following an embarrassing loss to the then-winless Tennessee Titans. Some are beginning to speculate on if a lot of reliable playmakers could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Because of the potential for a fire sale coming from the Colts, Pittsburgh might be paying attention. Khan made the deal with Ballard to acquire Pittman, but now the phone call could go to interim general manager Ed Dodds or owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. In these situations, it's important to look at targets who are playing on expiring contracts. Indianapolis does have an option who the Steelers might be interested in.

It's impossible to ignore Josh Downs in this situation. The quick-twitch wide receiver is in the final year of his rookie deal. It might make sense for the Colts to move on from him, especially after paying Alec Pierce so much money in the 2026 offseason. Because of his age, it might cost the Steelers a third- or fourth-round selection to acquire the pass-catcher. Still, he might be the perfect guy to step in and contribute down the stretch.

Khan making a move like this would certainly indicate that the prognosis for Pittman and/or Wilson is not very good. Still, the Steelers are in a spot where making a significant splash could make sense. At 4-2, Pittsburgh is right in the middle of a tough AFC North race. Going out and acquiring someone like Downs could be the perfect addition to the offense.

The one thing to keep in mind when it comes to the Steelers bringing in another offensive weapon is that it will only be done if it truly makes sense. If the injured guys are expected to return, and reports of Pittman's status are inaccurate, going after Downs could be the wrong thing to do. Overall, though, Khan is likely to be a buyer at the deadline regardless because of Pittsburgh's strong start to the year.

The unfortunate part about the speculation is that the front office made a deal to bring in Pittman to be the second option in the passing game. He has not been that, and injuries have plagued him dating back to training camp. He has some familiarity with Downs because they were previously teammates, and could possibly be once again.

Steelers Will Likely Keep An Eye On The WR Market

Downs might not be the only wide receiver who could be connected to Pittsburgh. In the coming weeks, certain teams will lose more games and decide that draft capital is more attractive than trying to win in 2026. This is why Khan will likely be on the phones and acting as a buyer for the Steelers. Wide receiver and cornerback are most definitely two positions to watch out for in the Steel City.

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