Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will not play in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Shane Steichen announced Friday. Pittman, who has been dealing with a persistent back injury, did not practice this week and has been ruled out for the matchup. The injury has been a significant concern, with Pittman previously admitting that it had threatened to sideline him for an extended period, potentially placing him on injured reserve.
“He’s been battling like crazy. We’re taking this thing week-to-week,” Steichen said. “As I’ve said before, he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around.”
Steichen also indicated that the team is not currently considering placing Pittman on injured reserve. The 26-year-old wide receiver, who has only missed five games in his first five NFL seasons, has struggled with his production in recent weeks, recording just two receptions for 30 yards on 10 targets over the past two games. His 366 receiving yards through the first nine games of the season mark the lowest total of his career.
“I’m not gonna make excuses for it,” Pittman said on Thursday. “If I’m out there, I’m out there.”
With Pittman sidelined, the Colts offense is expected to rely more heavily on wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Pierce, the team’s leading receiver with 435 yards, 19 catches, and three touchdowns, is poised to step up, as is Downs, who has also caught three touchdown passes and leads the team with 38 receptions for 411 yards.
Rookie AD Mitchell, who has seen limited action this season, could also see increased playing time. Mitchell has recorded just 12 catches for 140 yards but impressed last week with a 22-yard sideline grab. Colts wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne has expressed confidence that Mitchell’s performance can help build his confidence.
“I can only control so much,” Mitchell said. “So what I can control is just my everyday actions, how I prepare, and how I look at everything. Just keep stacking, keep stacking days on days, and at the end it’ll all come around.”
In other injury news, Steichen confirmed that starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who missed last week’s game due to a concussion, has cleared the league’s concussion protocol and will play on Sunday. Raimann will be joined by rookie center Tanor Bortolini, who will start in place of Ryan Kelly. Kelly was placed on injured reserve this week due to a knee injury. Bortolini, a fourth-round pick, previously filled in for Kelly in Weeks 4 and 5, earning praise for his performances during that stretch.
“Obviously, that’s not the way you want to get in there,” Bortolini said of Kelly’s injury. “But regardless, you’ve got to capitalize on your chances, and I’m really excited to get back out there. The last two times I’ve been out there, I’ve had a blast.”