The Dallas Cowboys drafted a future franchise cornerstone in Caleb Downs. After falling to the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Downs already has a chip in his shoulder, but his older brother, Josh Downs, is making sure to further his little bother's desire for revenge as he enters his NFL career.
Unfortunately for Josh, who is a receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, he may get caught in the crossfire in Caleb's revenge plot. With the 2026 NFL schedule set to release on Thursday, the Cowboys' opponents are already confirmed, and Dallas is set to travel to Indianapolis to face Downs and the Colts where the two brothers will square off at some point this season.
However, Josh revealed to the media that their first battle may be more of a head-to-head affair than we believe. Since Christian Parker is planning to use the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner as the Cowboys' starting nickel cornerback, and he's the Colts' slot receiver, odds are it will be a direct battle.
“He told me if he goes to the Cowboys, he’s playing nickel," Downs said. "So, that’s like head-to-head all game. … I gotta let him know he’s the little brother in the situation.”
Dallas Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs might make older brother Josh Downs regret his challenge
The Older Downs went on to poke fun at their first meeting on opposite teams. They may be family, but on that given Sunday, they won't be, as Josh said he has to "let him know he's the little brother in the situation", but I don't think a generational defensive back prospect is going to let those words fly.
Josh and Caleb Downs are roughly three-and-a-half years apart, as the third-year wideout will turn 25 in August while the new Cowboys' DB turned 21 in December. With that age gap, they have never played on the same team, and they actually seem excited to face off for the first time as NFL players.
This matchup will mark their first since they were both in high school, as Josh's time at North Carolina never overlapped with Caleb's at Alabama and Ohio State, so there's a lot on the line. They're both playing for bragging rights at Thanksgiving dinner, and neither of them wants to look foolish in front of the extended family.
The All-American DB is already set to be a franchise-altering player for this Cowboys' defense, and now that his older brother is running his mouth, he's ready to shut him (and any other receiver he has to face) down, and prove send Josh a message he's been waiting to send him for their entire lives.
Add us as a preferred source on Google