Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Josh Downs spoke about Anthony Richardson getting the starting job as well as Downs adjusting to NFL play. (Video by Jake Arthur)
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00:00 >> Josh, you and Anthony are roommates still, I assume.
00:04 What's it been like this week with you both with the first team?
00:07 >> Man, I mean, it feels good being out there with AR.
00:09 I mean, we still learning each other on the field, just cuz I mean,
00:13 I've been going to like 12 practices.
00:15 But I'm not just having him as a roommate and out there as my quarterback.
00:18 I can't ask for anything better.
00:20 It's a blessing for us.
00:21 So he trusts me now and I always tell him he can trust me.
00:24 Even after he calls the play, I just slip a little, hey, look for me.
00:28 So, but I like AR, man, he's a good dude.
00:31 He proven a lot of people wrong.
00:32 >> So that's why you thought about a dozen balls today, it seemed like?
00:35 >> Yeah, I mean, I can't complain.
00:37 He looked at me and I mean, I try to catch the ball as much as I can just to make
00:41 him trust me.
00:42 >> Are you excited to hear that just for
00:44 him to get that opportunity to be the starter of this team?
00:47 >> Yeah, I mean, I feel like that's a confidence booster for
00:50 him knowing that the coaches believe in him, the organization believes in him,
00:53 real early.
00:54 So yeah, going out there, I mean, he's taking advantage of it.
00:57 He don't look timid, he look like he's been there, done that.
01:00 So I love him out there.
01:01 I mean, I've had great quarterbacks in college.
01:04 I mean, he's riding that pedigree.
01:05 So I love to see it.
01:06 >> The deep ball in seven on seven, did he just sort of put it up for
01:11 you to see if he can catch you, I mean, the interception?
01:14 >> No, just miscommunication.
01:16 We're gonna face it, but it was just a miscommunication.
01:17 >> You said he was proving people wrong.
01:20 Who are those people?
01:21 >> No, you know me.
01:22 Just some comments you see on the social media and stuff like that.
01:25 But everybody gets that, but I mean, he's going out there, he's balling.
01:29 So that's all I can say.
01:30 >> What are the comments?
01:31 >> I mean, man, I'm not gonna answer that question.
01:35 You know what I'm talking about.
01:36 So he's doing good.
01:37 >> Josh, when you get open, how much of it is technique,
01:40 how much of it is feel just for finding a way to be, obviously?
01:44 Cuz Garvin said that's your greatest skill is you get open.
01:47 >> No, a little bit of both, and also just God-given talent, really.
01:50 So you gotta have technique, you gotta have skill,
01:53 you gotta have God-blessing talent as well.
01:55 But you also gotta have feel as a receiver, especially in the slot.
01:59 You're maneuvering through the nickel to safety, the linebackers, and
02:01 they're a lot stronger.
02:02 So just being able to maneuver around, find an open hole, and
02:06 then recognizing this man to get off press coverage,
02:09 recognize just different things like that.
02:11 So I feel like getting open to me, I don't like being covered.
02:14 I feel like when I get covered, I feel like I'm not as good of a player.
02:17 So I feel like I gotta get open every single time.
02:20 >> How much of that connection between you and
02:22 Anthony, you need to be seeing the defense with the same set of eyes?
02:24 Of like, hey, I see this, I know you see this, so
02:27 I'm gonna tackle coverage this way.
02:28 >> No, I mean, you gotta be on the same page as your quarterback on every single
02:32 level, so I mean, we're building that right now.
02:34 You're building that with Pitt and Alec and other receivers like Isaiah too, so
02:38 he's doing a great job.
02:40 I love Anthony, he's playing extremely well right now.
02:43 >> Talking about this practice specifically,
02:45 this was your first experience with joint practices.
02:47 How do you feel like you did overall in the offense left?
02:50 >> I mean, I took it like a game today.
02:52 I mean, I was really excited.
02:54 When I woke up this morning, I felt like we was going out there to play a game.
02:58 So I've always seen joint practices like in high school and college, and
03:02 I kinda wanted to just get a taste of what it feels like.
03:04 And today, I did, so just competing out there with different guys,
03:08 being able to just see different talent other than the Bills and our guys.
03:12 So basically, I'm still seeing how I stack up in the league, and
03:16 I mean, I'm just competing.
03:17 >> So based off the day, how do you feel like you stack up?
03:19 >> I mean, I feel like I can get better, of course.
03:22 I feel like I'm doing some things well, but I'm still young, so
03:25 I got a long way to go.
03:26 >> Last one of your last firsts is gonna be Saturday, your first home game.
03:30 Just how excited are you to be at Lucas Oil and a home crowd for the first time?
03:34 >> I'm very excited.
03:35 My parents coming up to the game, so my people coming to Indy,
03:38 I'm excited for that.
03:39 And I'm also excited to play in the stadium.
03:42 Last time I was in there was the combine, so I'm excited to see how it feels,
03:45 putting on the blue and playing in front of all the fans.
03:48 >> Couple more.
03:49 >> It seemed like some of those periods were pretty lively,
03:51 a lot of chatter going back and forth.
03:53 How did you feel like the very secondary was playing you today?
03:56 >> I mean, they got a lot of great players, so we competed out there.
04:00 They made some plays, we made some plays.
04:02 And at the end of the day, it's the highest level of football.
04:06 Everybody's competitive out there, and everybody wants to be great.
04:08 So if it gets chippy, it gets chippy.
04:10 That's just how the game of football is.
04:12 Everybody aggressive, everybody strong out there, everybody wanna be the best.
04:16 >> What did the offense learn today, for the first day of joint practice?
04:20 >> I feel like we got a lot of guys that can make plays.
04:23 That's what we learned.
04:25 We've known that through camp, but just doing it against somebody else,
04:28 it kinda just helps you get even more of a reminder of that.
04:31 So we got a lot of guys across the board that can make plays.
04:34 I mean, and I feel like we can be explosive.