As Michael Pittman Jr. continues to work through his back injury, the fifth-year wide receiver is not using being banged up to paper over his decreased production over the last few weeks.
Pittman has one catch in each of his last two games; he hasn't had two or fewer catches in consecutive games since Weeks 14-15 of his rookie year. Pittman has led the Colts in receptions in each of the last three seasons, and in 2023 became the fourth player in Colts history to have at least 100 catches and over 1,000 yards in a single season, joining Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.
"I'm not going to make excuses," Pittman said. "If I'm out there, I'm out there."
Head coach Shane Steichen said following the Colts' Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, in which Pittman had season-lows in targets (four) and yards (14), that he's looking for ways to get Pittman involved earlier in games.
"Obviously he's dealing with some stuff but trying to get him the ball as well," Steichen said.
"It's definitely frustrating because I feel like I need to do better," Pittman said, "and I'm trying to find ways to do that whether it's extra film work, rehab, just finding ways around it and trying to find the best system."
Steichen said Pittman and the Colts are taking things "week to week" with the wide receiver's back and he did not participate in practice Wednesday, which in previous weeks has not been indicative of his availability for a game Sunday. Steichen, too, lauded Pittman's toughness in making himself available over the last few weeks.
But again, Pittman is not using his back injury as an excuse.
"At this point, everybody's fighting through some type of thing so it's not like I'm doing anything that's special," Pittman said. "But we're just taking it week to week and just seeing where it goes."
Wednesday's practice report:
The Indianapolis Colts hit the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center practice fields for the start of week 10 practice.
LB Zaire Franklin #44
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Raekwon Davis #98
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Ashton Dulin #16
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Evan Hull #26, RB Tyler Goodson #31 and RB Trey Sermon #27
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Joe Flacco #15 and WR Laquon Treadwell#17
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Josh Downs #1
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Anthony Gould #6
LB Segun Olubi #50
WR Laquon Treadwell#17
LB Cameron McGrone #59 and LB Segun Olubi #50
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
36 RB Salvon Ahmed, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and RB Tyler Goodson #31
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers and WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Laquon Treadwell#17 and Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers and WR Josh Downs #1
LB E.J. Speed #45
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
LB Segun Olubi #50
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
TE Will Mallory #86
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Josh Downs #1 and DeAndre Smith Running Backs
RB Trey Sermon #27
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Kenny Moore II #23 and S Julian Blackmon #32
S Julian Blackmon #32
Cam Turner Quarterbacks and QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB Tyler Goodson #31
Shane Steichen Head Coach
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
CB Jaylon Jones #40
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Matt Gay #7
Charlie Partridge Defensive Line, DT Raekwon Davis #98 and Matt Raich Sr. Assistant - Defensive Line
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Josh Downs #1
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
TE Drew Ogletree #85
RB Tyler Goodson #31
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
36 RB Salvon Ahmed
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB Evan Hull #26
RB Tyler Goodson #31
S Julian Blackmon #32 and S Nick Cross #20
CB Kenny Moore II #23
QB/WR Jason Bean #12 and 36 RB Salvon Ahmed
RB Tyler Goodson #31
CB Kenny Moore II #23
QB Sam Ehlinger #4 and RB Evan Hull #26
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB Trey Sermon #27 and Diego Ortiz Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow
36 RB Salvon Ahmed
LB Grant Stuard #41 and Cato June Assistant Linebackers
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Ashton Dulin #16
DT Raekwon Davis #98
LB Austin Ajiake #58 and Cato June Assistant Linebackers
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Kwity Paye #51
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Taven Bryan #96, DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
QB Anthony Richardson #5 and QB Sam Ehlinger #4
