Carter Bahns#18 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 21, 2026

With Alec Pierce out, Bahns expects Josh Downs to step into the Colts' No. 1 receiver role, with Keenan Allen and Tyler Warren also seeing bigger roles.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

Waitinggraded once the result is in

What Carter Bahns said

In his absence, Josh Downs figures to be elevated to the No. 1 role while late-offseason addition Keenan Allen could also see an uptick in targets.

Our reading: Josh Downs to be 1st on the depth chart

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: Colts' Alec Pierce ruled out after injuring heel vs. Chiefs on 'Sunday Night Football'
The original: Read the original
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How the call scored

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

The call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same call; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

Where this call stands in the room

Josh Downs · 2026 season

Carter Bahns — 1the room — 13 calls from 9 punditsmedian 1

Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.

Their call against the room

1They said

1The room (9 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

Depth Chart Calls Josh Downs Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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Others on the same people

Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.
Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.
Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.
Jordan Schultz · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schultz expects Jonathan Taylor to be traded for at least a second-round pick plus additional compensation, and believes Josh Downs will ultimately be dealt for a fourth-round pick rather than the third the Colts are seeking.
Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.
Adam Schefter · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schefter, as relayed on the show, said they expect Josh Downs to be traded.

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