Josh Downs is expected to suit up for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite requesting a trade earlier this week.
According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, head coach Shane Steichen said Downs will play after the two had a conversation about the situation. Steichen reportedly asked the receiver to be a professional and handle his business, and Downs is ready to go.
Downs requested a trade Wednesday after Indianapolis dealt away key veterans Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. The receiver reportedly believes he can find a better opportunity to win elsewhere, adding another layer of uncertainty to the Colts' plans ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline.
The timing of the request is interesting, considering Indianapolis may have already been preparing to move on from Downs. With the team making changes to its roster, trading the young receiver could be another step in its evolving direction. His request may have made that possibility more public, but it does not necessarily mean the Colts needed much convincing.
Article Continues BelowDowns could still be on the field against Jacksonville before the situation reaches its next stage. Indianapolis may choose to explore trade options after Sunday's game or ahead of the deadline, depending on the offers it receives. Teams will be interested.
For now, Steichen expects Downs to handle his responsibilities and remain available for the division matchup. Whether he remains in Indianapolis beyond this week is another question entirely, as the Colts' recent moves have put several parts of their roster under a microscope.

