Colts Notebook: Josh Downs Returns To Practice

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts return from their bye week with the biggest game of the season waiting on Sunday in Denver.

The first 4:25 PM kick of the season for the Colts (6-7) comes in a trip to take on the Broncos (8-5).

What did we learn from the Colts first practice of Week 15?

The health of wide receiver Josh Downs (shoulder) is obviously a massive storyline for the Colts in Week 15. Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that Downs would return to practice as the Colts get back to a normal week of 3 practice days. Downs has missed 3 games this season, losing to the Texans and Packers, and beating the Patriots. With the Broncos having some cornerback depth questions, this Downs storyline carries even more weight going into Sunday.

Right tackle Braden Smith (personal) is unlikely to play this week, according to Shane Steichen. And the Colts head coach said he is unsure if the veteran right tackle will return this season. Certainly, best wishes to Smith and his family in whatever he’s dealing with. He was questionable for the Jets game due to a late-week personal matter, played the following week against the Lions and then missed the Patriots game. And now Steichen doesn’t anticipate Smith playing this week. “Again, I won’t get into details but I respect his privacy. It’s important,” Steichen said of Smith’s matter. Rookie Matt Goncalves is the likely right tackle if Smith can’t go.

The Colts have opened up the 21-day practice window for C-Ryan Kelly (knee) as he tries to return from injured reserve. Pending Kelly’s health, the Colts will have some center decisions to make. It was third stringer Danny Pinter getting the start last time out against the Patriots, as rookie Tanor Bortolini was in concussion protocol. Bortolini is also back to practice this week, too. Assuming Kelly looks good in practice this week after missing a month, Shane Steichen said the veteran center would start. A veteran like Kelly with 118 career starts, compared to 5 for Bortolini or 8 for Pinter could be handy in a loud Denver environment.

Could cornerback JuJu Brents (knee) return at some point this season? “He’s progressing well,” Shane Steichen said on Wednesday. “We’ll see how it goes, but he’s making good progress.” For now, Brents remains on injured reserve after getting hurt in the season opener. On the injured reserve front, the Colts are getting rookie LB-Jaylon Carlies back to practice this week. Carlies last played on October 20^th, and had been flashing a bit as the team’s third linebacker.

Sunday is huge. Huge. Huge. To put things into numbers, this is the explanation on how much Sunday means to the Colts and their playoff chances. Per the New York Times playoff predictor, the Colts currently have a 30 percent at making the playoffs. If the Colts beat the Broncos, the playoffs chances ill rise to 66 percent. If the Colts lose to the Broncos, the playoff chances will drop to 10 percent. Basically, a win would put the Colts in a position to make the playoffs, still needing some help. A loss would mean the Colts would need a miracle to make the postseason.

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say this is biggest “at stake” game of Anthony Richardson’s career. It’s a pseudo playoff game. In going 6-6 in his lone season as a starter at Florida, Richardson played in front of plenty of big crowds, but nothing with the big season stakes of this one. What a great opportunity for Richardson to experience this, on the road, in December against a promising young quarterback. And against a stout, high-blitzing defense, a unit that leads the league in sacks.

The Broncos are a surprise team at 8-5. Denver is built behind a stout defense, even if it lacks big name recognition in the front seven. Cornerback Patrick Surtain is one of the best in the league. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has made plenty of plays with his big arm and even legs. The Broncos are a by committee approach in the skill department, relying on a strong pass protecting offensive line.

What wrinkles will the Colts (and the Broncos) have coming out of the bye week? That’s a storyline to keep an eye on, especially offensively with Shane Steichen and Sean Payton leading things for their respective teams/units.

For those curious about a Sunday forecast in Denver? It looks pretty, pretty nice for mid-December, with temps in the low-to-mid 50s and no precipitation forecasted.