FRISCO, Texas — Caleb Downs said Friday that he has to make the play on the slant Isaiah Likely caught against him in the Dallas Cowboys’ season opener.
On a third-and-3, Likely lined up in the slot, faked toward the sideline, and broke inside for a 5-yard catch in the New York Giants’ 28-20 win on Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium.
Downs was expecting the slant on the play.
“Option route, pretty much,” Downs said.
Likely finished with 8 catches for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first game with New York, which signed him in March after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants converted 9 of 11 third downs.
Downs was right there on the route.
“Everybody saw it was close, but close doesn’t really pay the bill,” Downs explained. “So I got to make that play. And that’s what it is.”
Caleb Downs Grades His NFL Debut Against New York Giants
Downs started in the slot and played 61 defensive snaps. He finished with 7 combined tackles, and his 4 solo tackles tied for the team lead.
In the second quarter, Downs came free on a blitz and hit Jaxson Dart for an 8-yard sack that knocked the ball loose. The Giants recovered at the Dallas 34. That strip sack was one of the plays Downs made in his NFL debut.
“Did some good things, some things to clean up,” Downs said. “That’s how I’m always looking at it. So made a couple of plays, a couple of plays I wish I had back.”
Downs went into Sunday night trying to do what he was supposed to do.
“A lot of excitement, honestly,” Downs said. “Just trying to seize the moment and do what I’m supposed to do. That’s really all it was.”
Most of the slowing down happened for him in training camp.
“I think it slowed down a lot during camp, and then more reps, that will continue to slow down throughout the season,” Downs said.
Caleb Downs Hears From Family Before AT&T Stadium Home Opener
Downs hosts the “Downs 2 Business” podcast with his older brother, Josh Downs, a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. The show’s latest episode followed Caleb’s debut. Their father, Gary Downs, was a third-round pick of the Giants in 1994 and played 70 NFL games through 2000.
Nobody in the family expected anything less from Downs.
“A little bit,” Downs said. “I mean, I don’t think anybody was really expecting me to do any worse, so it was kind of just like go and do what you’re supposed to do and still love you either way. That’s pretty much what it is.”
Sunday is Downs’ first regular-season game at AT&T Stadium. Joy is the only way he knows to feel about it.
“Just excitement, honestly,” Downs said. “It’s a blessed feeling to be able to play this game, and there’s no really other way to feel about it than just straight joy. So I’m excited to do that, and we’re excited to do what we need to do to get a win.”
Dallas and the Washington Commanders are both 0-1. Kickoff Sunday at AT&T Stadium is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
