Pittman (back) practiced fully Thursday.
After missing his first game of the season this past Sunday against the Bills due to a back injury he's been managing as well as a finger issue, Pittman was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice estimate. With Pittman able to maintain that level of participation in Thursday's session, he's poised to return to action this weekend against the Jets after having evidently benefited from being held out of Week 10 action. Barring any in-game setbacks, Pittman should step back into a key role in the Colts' wideout corps, but with Anthony Richardson back as the team's starting QB, it's possible that Indianapolis' offense may tilt toward the running game.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Estimated as full participant
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Pittman (back) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
The Colts held a walk-through session Wednesday, and Pittman's listing as a full participant seemingly indicates that the wideout is making good progress after sitting out this past Sunday's loss to the Bills with a lingering back issue. Indianapolis is expected to hold a more traditional practice session Thursday, and assuming Pittman is once again a full participant in that session, he should be in the clear to play this Sunday versus the Jets. If Pittman is back in the lineup Sunday, he'll be on the receiving end of passes from Anthony Richardson, who has been reinstalled as Indianapolis' starting quarterback following a two-game benching.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Ruled out this week
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Head coach Shane Steichen said that Pittman (back/finger) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.
Pittman, who didn't participate in practice this week, thus is slated to miss his first game of the season. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Steichen indicated Friday that Pittman is viewed as week-to-week, but at this stage the team is still not considering IR for the wideout. In Pittman's absence, Josh Downs and Alec Pierce are in line to lead the Colts' WR corps, with Ashton Dulin and Adonai Mitchell mixing in, while Anthony Gould is available in reserve.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Still not practicing
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Pittman (back/finger) remained sidelined at practice Friday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman also missed sessions Wednesday and Thursday, and his continued absence Friday doesn't bode well for his chances of playing Sunday against the Bills. If Pittman ends up being unavailable for the contest, the Colts' Week 10 wideout corps would be in line to be led by Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, with Ashton Dulin and Adonai Mitchell mixing in.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Not seen at Thursday's practice
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Pittman (back/finger) wasn't spotted at Thursday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman didn't practice Wednesday, his norm since Week 6, so his absence a day later is notable. What the wideout -- who hasn't missed any games yet this season -- is able to do Friday, if anything, thus will be pivotal in terms of gauging the chances of him be able to continue to play through the back issue that he's been managing of late. The Colts face the Bills at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: WRs to Sit
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I was hopeful that Joe Flacco's return as the starter in Week 9 at Minnesota would help Pittman play at a high level again, but he had one catch for 14 yards on four targets. While Josh Downs is getting at least nine targets a game with Flacco, Pittman has been at nine combined targets in the past two games Flacco has started. Pittman is also dealing with back and finger injuries, and I would only start him in three-receiver leagues against the Bills in Week 10.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Just one catch in Week 9 loss
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Pittman caught one of four targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings.
Pittman was blanked on one first-half target and didn't see a substantial uptick in the second half. His quiet stat line was especially disappointing in the context of the Colts benching Anthony Richardson and starting Joe Flacco under center against the Vikings, as Pittman's pedestrian performance this season has been attributed in large part to Richardson's inaccuracy. After mustering at least 925 receiving yards in each of the previous three regular seasons, Pittman's on pace for only 691 receiving yards in 2024, with just 366 yards through nine games. Picking up the pace won't be easy in Week 10 against Buffalo's stout secondary.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Submits full practice
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Pittman (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Pittman sat out Wednesday's session, but his ability to log every rep in practice a day later clears up any concern about his status heading into Sunday's contest versus the Vikings. After signing a three-year, $70 million extension with the Colts in March, Pittman has slumped to a 29-352-2 receiving line on 53 targets through the team's first eight games, but his fantasy outlook should be rosier moving forward after head coach Shane Steichen announced that Joe Flacco will replace Anthony Richardson as the starting quarterback. While Flacco made two starts and an extended appearance off the bench in place of an injured Richardson from Weeks 4 through 6, Pittman produced 14 catches for 185 yards and scored both of his touchdowns on the season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Misses another Wednesday practice
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Pittman (back) didn't practice Wednesday.
Pittman's practice reps have been managed of late while he's nursed a back injury, as he's now been listed as a non-participant on four consecutive Wednesday injury reports. The Colts haven't suggested that Pittman suffered any setbacks coming out of Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, when he logged a 95 percent snap share and finished with one catch for 16 yards on six targets. The expectation is that Pittman will upgrade to full participation Thursday and/or Friday to clear up any concern about his status for this weekend's game against the Vikings. Assuming he's available for the contest, Pittman's fantasy prospects should be bolstered by the installation of Joe Flacco over the struggling Anthony Richardson as the Colts' starting quarterback moving forward.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: More inefficiency with Richardson
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Pittman secured one of six targets for 16 yards in the Colts' 23-20 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
Pittman struggled through another game with Anthony Richardson as his quarterback, finishing a very distant second to Josh Downs in receiving yards on the afternoon. Pittman has now finished under 40 receiving yards in three of the last four games, and he's therefore on track to finish with his lowest numbers across the board since his rookie 2020 campaign.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: No Week 8 injury designation
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Pittman (back) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Texans.
After practicing fully Thursday, Pittman didn't practice Friday, but, given that he heads into the weekend minus an injury designation, his non-participation presumably was maintenance-related as he continues to work through a back issue. With fellow WR Josh Downs (groin/toe) and top RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) also cleared for Week 8 action, the Colts offense is as healthy as it's been for some time as QB Anthony Richardson makes his second straight start after having missed time with an oblique injury. Through seven games to date, Pittman has compiled a 28-336-2 line on 47 targets, a rate of production down from last season's pace but still enough to merit fantasy lineup consideration.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Puts in full practice
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Pittman (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Last week, Pittman sandwiched missed practices Wednesday and Friday around a full session Thursday before playing in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins and finishing with three catches on 63 yards on five targets. He may be following a similar path this week, as he sat out Wednesday's session before logging every rep Thursday. The Colts will wait and see what Pittman is able to do during Friday's practice before determining whether he'll avoid a designation or take a questionable tag into this Sunday's matchup with the Texans.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Not practicing Wednesday
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Pittman (back) was present but not participating in Wednesday's practice, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Josh Downs (toe) was also a spectator during practice, though Atkins points out that both Pittman and Downs also missed the last two Wednesday practice sessions for rest purposes. Pittman has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, but the early expectation is that he'll be ready to play.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Cleared to play Sunday
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Pittman (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Pittman didn't practice Wednesday and Friday due to the back injury and was listed as questionable heading into the weekend, but a full session Thursday likely cleared up any lingering concern about his health heading into Sunday. Though Pittman is unlikely to face any restrictions with his snaps Sunday, the return of Anthony Richardson (oblique) to the lineup after missing the past two games could limit Pittman's fantasy appeal. While Richardson was healthy and played the entirety of Weeks 1 through 3, Pittman managed just 11 receptions for 88 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets before he saw his production take off with Joe Flacco directing the offense for most of the past three contests.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Appears likely to play Sunday
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Pittman (back) is listed as questionable but is considered likely to play Sunday against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter's report aligns with what James Boyd of The Athletic previously reported Friday, but it's further confirmation that Pittman appears to be on the right side of the questionable tag ahead of Sunday's date with Miami. The Colts are going back to Anthony Richardson under center, which can't be viewed as a positive for Pittman's fantasy prospects after he posted receiving lines of 4-31-0, 3-21-0 and 4-36-0 across Weeks 1 through 3 with Richardson at the controls. Pittman has 100 yards and/or one touchdown in all three games with Joe Flacco either starting or playing most of the contest.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Likely to play Sunday, barring setback
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Pittman, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Dolphins, is expected to play this weekend as long as he doesn't have a setback with his back injury, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
After a back issue emerged for Pittman last week, there was a belief that he'd miss multiple weeks and perhaps even be placed on injured reserve. He was able to buck that report and suit up this past Sunday at Tennessee, logging a healthy 80 percent snap share and gathering in three of five targets for 35 yards and one touchdown. During Week 7 prep, Pittman sandwiched DNPs around a full practice Thursday, ultimately getting a questionable designation ahead of the weekend. Before Pittman was given that tag, though, coach Shane Steichen told Boyd, "Yeah, he'll be out there," in reference to the wide receiver's ability to suit up. A game-time decision thus seems likely for Pittman, and his status will be clarified about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If he's available, he'll be welcoming back franchise QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) for the first time since Week 4, and Pittman's usage could be impacted by the fact fellow WRs Josh Downs (toe) and Alec Pierce (shoulder) also are listed as questionable.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Questionable but expected to play
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Pittman (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, but coach Shane Steichen said Friday that Pittman is expected to play, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman played through the back injury and caught the game-winning touchdown in this past Sunday's 20-17 win over the Titans. He didn't practice Wednesday or Friday but logged a full session Thursday in between. The wide receiver should continue to tough it out Sunday, but he's less than fully healthy and will be catching passes from Anthony Richardson (oblique) rather than Joe Flacco against a Dolphins secondary that has allowed only three touchdowns through the air this season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Not practicing Friday
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Pittman (back) was present but not participating in Friday's practice, according to Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star.
Pittman practiced fully Thursday, so it's possible that his non-participation Friday is rest-related rather than indicative of a setback. The Colts' upcoming injury report thus is slated to reveal the Week 7 game statuses of Pittman and fellow WRs Josh Downs (toe) and Alec Pierce (shoulder).
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Full practice participant
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Pittman (back) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Pittman will continue playing through his back injury Sunday against the Dolphins, but his fantasy value takes a hit with Anthony Richardson expected to step back in ahead of Joe Flacco at quarterback. Pittman accounts for 31.9 percent of the targets from Richardson this year, but just 13 of those have been completed -- for 148 yards and no TDs -- and Pittman's share of the passing game has declined some since Josh Downs returned from an ankle injury Week 3. Pittman nonetheless had his three best fantasy scores of the season the past three weeks, benefitting from more passing volume and a higher completion rate with Flacco under center.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Back at practice
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Pittman (back) is participating in Thursday's practice, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman is back at practice Thursday after having missed Wednesday's session, with the same going for fellow starting wideout Josh Downs (toe). During Indianapolis' win over the Titans in Week 6, Pittman played through his back injury and corralled three of five targets for 35 yards and a touchdown. It looks like Pittman will again attempt to play through his back issue Sunday versus Miami, a game in which Anthony Richardson should be back in the starting lineup.
