INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL’s most potent offense has regained its health in time for a Sunday rematch with the Tennessee Titans.
Wide receiver Josh Downs has been cleared from the league’s concussion protocol and will resume his normal spot in an Indianapolis Colts offense that ranks No. 1 in scoring, No. 5 in passing yards per game and No. 3 in passing yards per play.
“He’s up,’’ Shane Steichen said Friday. “He’s ready to go.’’
A second offensive bump should come from the return of Ashton Dulin, the team’s No. 4 wideout and core special teams standout.
Downs and Dulin missed last Sunday’s 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Downs suffered a concussion in the week 6 win over Arizona, while Dulin suffered a chest injury against the Cardinals.
Despite missing two key components against the Rams, Steichen’s offense generated one of its most efficient games: 401 total yards, five touchdowns and one Michael Badgley field goal on the first seven possessions.
Daniel Jones continued his efficient/productive season by passing for 288 yards with touchdowns to Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie tight end Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor finished with 94 yards and became the first player in club history to rush for three TDs in a game three times in a season.
More injury info
Defensive end Samson Ebukam (knee) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game, while defensive end Tyquan Lewis (groin) is questionable. Lewis did not practice this week.
Cornerback Jaylon Jones was not activated off the injured reserve list. He’s been out since re-injuring a hamstring injury in the opener against Miami, but the team opened his 21-day window to practice this week. Jones was limited in the three practices this week.
“He looked good,’’ Steichen said. “He’s close. So, we’ll see how next week goes.’’
Pass game missing one stat
There’s a quirky byproduct to Jones spreading the football around in a pass game that ranks No. 5 in yards per game (250.1) and No. 3 in yards per attempt (8.3).
The Colts are one of six teams without a 100-yard receiver after seven games. The others: Kansas City, Cleveland, the New York Jets, Washington and the Arizona Cardinals.
“That’s wild,’’ said Alec Pierce. “We’re just spreading the ball.
“We’ll get there.’’
Pierce nearly got there last week against the Chargers. He had 98 yards on five receptions. AD Mitchell finished with 96 yards on three catches in a week 4 loss to the Rams that altered the course of his season with two critical mistakes.
Some teams have a no-doubt, go-to wideout. There’s Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Rams’ Puka Nacua, along with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson.
The Colts are riding a collective assault. Five players have at least 16 receptions and 25 targets. Six have had at least one 50-yard game. Pittman leads the team with 35 catches, 47 targets and five TDs while Warren has amassed a team-high 439 yards.
“Well, right now I prefer what we’re doing,’’ Steichen said. “I think we’ve got multiple guys that have different skillsets and just trying to put those guys in the best position to go make those plays.’’
About Mitchell
The return of Downs and Dulin might mean another inactive Sunday for Mitchell.
After his two gaffes against the Rams, the 2024 second-round draft pick was limited to six snaps in mop-up time the next week against Las Vegas before being inactive against Arizona.
Mitchell was active at the Chargers but limited to five snaps on offense and his first two career snaps on special teams. He had one catch for 8 yards. Wideout/kick returner Anthony Gould handled a career-high 39 offensive snaps.
“I’d be a liar to say it doesn’t get to me,’’ Mitchell said this week. “Shoot, it’s really just about trying to focus on whatever I can do to get better.
“This is the most adversity I’ve ever faced.’’
He insisted his weekly preparation hasn’t changed but also realizes it might be tough cracking the receiver rotation until an injury pops up.
“I hope I haven’t played my last offensive snap,’’ Mitchell said. “I still have confidence in myself and what I bring to the offense.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.