Former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs will be getting the little brother treatment when he and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys play the Indianapolis Colts.
That’s because Downs will be facing his brother, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, at some point during his rookie season.
“I remember before [Caleb] got drafted, not to, like, talk about the Cowboys’ scheme or nothing, but he told me if he goes to the Cowboys, he’s playing nickel. So, that’s like head-to-head like all game,” Josh Downs told reporters May 6.
Primarily a slot receiver, Josh Downs runs most of his routes in the middle of the field, where Caleb Downs, as a nickel back, would be defending.
Full NFL schedules have yet to be released, but the league did announce that the Colts will be hosting the Cowboys this season.
“It’s all fun and games, but you know I still got to let him know he’s the little brother in the situation,” Josh Downs said.
Josh Downs also admitted to wearing a Cowboys hat on draft night to support his little brother.
“We went out later and I had a Cowboys hat on, and then my sister was like, ‘Don’t you play for the Colts? Why do you still have that on?'” Josh Downs said. “I’m like, ‘I’m just being a brother today.’ But after that, I got to get rid of that.”
Josh Downs, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, finished with 58 receptions for 566 receiving yards in the 2025 NFL season. Caleb Downs was drafted with the No. 11 overall pick in 2026.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Josh Downs to remind Ohio State’s Caleb Downs he’s the little brother
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
