Following the Colts' Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. – who had two catches on five targets in the game – made some comments to the Indianapolis Star he wanted to clean up on Wednesday.
Those postgame comments: "They just didn't target me today, for whatever reason. Maybe I'm not a big part of the offense. ... When I do get the ball, I feel like I always do something with it. Just know that i'm viable to break off a big one in any situation vs. any team. I'm just trying to show the coaches that I'm out there, too."
On Wednesday, Pittman addressed those remarks in front of his locker at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
"Obviously it was a very frustrating loss the way that it happened," Pittman said. "I've never been a good loser. I'm actually a very poor sport, it's something that I've been working on my whole life. And it's just hard for me sometimes when you lose your composure, you lose your head.
"I think I was a little dramatic when I said that. Obviously I am a big part of this offense — I lead the team in targets, stuff like that. It was out of frustration and I just wanted to clear up that I love playing here, I love Indy and everything we do here. I'm excited for this week coming up."
Pittman added he probably wouldn't have made those comments had he waited another 30 minutes Sunday evening – the sting of the Colts' 39-38 loss was still fresh.
Pittman indeed leads the Colts in targets (65), receptions (42) and receiving yards (489) entering Week 8; he's averaging 69.9 yards per game, which would be a career high.
View the top photos as the Colts return to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center practice fields Wednesday preparing to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
15 WR Tyrie Cleveland
12 QB Kellen Mond
85 TE Andrew Ogletree
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Brian Bratton Offensive Quality Control Wide Receivers, 11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Head Coach Shane Steichen
32 S Julian Blackmon
20 S Nick Cross
40 CB Jaylon Jones
43 S Trevor Denbow
25 CB Rodney Thomas II
20 S Nick Cross
56 G Quenton Nelson
68 DT Caleb Sampson, 56 G Quenton Nelson
56 G Quenton Nelson
78 C Ryan Kelly, 65 G Josh Sills, 56 G Quenton Nelson
10 QB Gardner Minshew
Head Coach Shane Steichen
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
27 RB Trey Sermon
32 S Julian Blackmon, 25 CB Rodney Thomas II
23 CB Kenny Moore II
34 RB Zavier Scott, DeAndre Smith Running Backs
34 RB Zavier Scott, DeAndre Smith Running Backs
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
34 RB Zavier Scott
34 RB Zavier Scott
39 CB Darrell Baker Jr., 37 CB Ameer Speed, 38 CB Tony Brown
45 LB E.J. Speed
50 LB Segun Olubi
59 LB Cameron McGrone
47 LB Liam Anderson
48 S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
41 LB Grant Stuard
48 S Ronnie Harrison Jr. , 47 LB Liam Anderson
45 LB E.J. Speed , Richard Smith Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator
41 LB Grant Stuard
50 LB Segun Olubi , 53 LB Shaquille Leonard
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
14 WR Alec Pierce
1 WR Josh Downs
9 WR Juwann Winfree
2 WR D.J. Montgomery
9 WR Juwann Winfree
13 WR KJ Hamler
69 DT Ross Blacklock
99 DT DeForest Buckner
99 DT DeForest Buckner
96 DT Taven Bryan
9 WR Juwann Winfree
99 DT DeForest Buckner , 55 DE Isaiah Land
51 DE Kwity Paye
55 DE Isaiah Land , 99 DT DeForest Buckner
55 DE Isaiah Land
55 DE Isaiah Land
4 QB Sam Ehlinger
10 QB Gardner Minshew
10 QB Gardner Minshew
25 CB Rodney Thomas II
14 WR Alec Pierce
46 LS Luke Rhodes , 8 P Rigoberto Sanchez
51 DE Kwity Paye
96 DT Taven Bryan , 69 DT Ross Blacklock
96 DT Taven Bryan , 69 DT Ross Blacklock
94 DE Tyquan Lewis
98 DT McTelvin Agim
6 WR Isaiah McKenzie
1 WR Josh Downs
13 WR KJ Hamler
15 WR Tyrie Cleveland
50 LB Segun Olubi
50 LB Segun Olubi
8 P Rigoberto Sanchez
96 DT Taven Bryan
10 QB Gardner Minshew
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
"Pittman Jr. is a huge part of this offense, and he's the ultimate competitor," head coach Shane Steichen said. "I think when really good players – they want the ball and they express their feelings sometimes. That's part of this league and we are going to do everything in our power to continue to get him the football moving forward."
Back on the eve of training camp, general manager Chris Ballard brought up Pittman's competitive fire as one of the traits he likes most about the fourth-year wide receiver.
"I don't mind guys that are emotional and care because they want to win and guys that want the ball," Ballard said. "That stuff doesn't bother me. I would rather have a guy like Pitt who wants it and wants to win and does all the little things competitively right instead of a guy that just accepts what his role is. Having him, his presence, his competitive nature, the way he works ... he is highly competitive and he's a big piece of what we do."
Wednesday's practice report:
