Definition of checkdown
plural checkdowns
American football
:a short pass play to a running back or tight end that the quarterback chooses after reading the defensive coverage and seeing no play downfield
- I just took what the defense gave me, hit my checkdowns, hit short stuff.
- —Eli Manning, quoted in Sporting News, 22 Dec. 2008
- Running back Warrick Dunn might be the most underrated back in the league. Dunn … is a serious threat as a receiver. He's a dangerous checkdown target …
- —Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times, 18 Dec. 2005
