The Indianapolis Colts will have to face off against the vaunted Buffalo Bills defense this Sunday without their top offensive weapon. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has been the steadying force in an otherwise tumultuous Colts season, has officially been ruled out for Week 10 due to an ongoing back injury.
Pittman, 26, has missed practice all week while receiving treatment on his ailing back. The third-year wideout has been a warrior for Indianapolis in 2024, gutting through the pain to suit up each Sunday. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
“He’s been battling like crazy,” Head Coach Shane Steichen said of his star receiver. “We’re taking this thing week to week. Like I’ve said, [he is] one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around.”
A Painful Decision for Pittman
The USC product actually contemplated a stint on injured reserve last month when the back issue first flared up. However, after careful consideration, Pittman decided he could still contribute to the team even at less than 100%.
Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster ride managing the injury. As Pittman described it:
“Some days are really good, and some days you wake up and you’re like, ‘Oh, here it goes,'”
Unfortunately, this week the bad days outnumbered the good, and Pittman will watch from the sidelines as his teammates take on a crucial conference opponent.
Next Man Up for Indy
Without their top target in the passing game, the Colts will turn to a bevy of young receivers to pick up the slack. Chief among them is rookie Adonai Mitchell out of Georgia.
Mitchell has played sparingly so far this season, averaging just 16.4 snaps per game. Last week against Minnesota he barely saw the field, logging only 5 offensive snaps. But the 22-year-old’s workload is about to increase dramatically.
“He’s improving, so looking forward to him [playing] this week,” said Coach Steichen when asked about the young wideout.
Mitchell will be joined by fellow pass-catchers Parris Campbell, Ashton Dulin, and tight ends Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson as they look to exploit a Bills secondary that has been middle-of-the-pack defending the pass this year.
Huge Implications in the AFC
The 4-5 Colts are still very much alive in the chase for the AFC South crown, trailing the Tennessee Titans by just one game. A win over the powerhouse Bills would go a long way toward validating their playoff chances.
Meanwhile, at 6-2, Buffalo finds themselves locked in a tight battle with the Miami Dolphins for AFC East supremacy. They can ill-afford a slip-up against a conference opponent if they want to maintain pole position for a top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for either side, which is why Pittman’s absence looms so large. In 8 games this season, he’s tallied 54 receptions for 603 yards and 3 touchdowns, pacing the Colts in all three categories.
A Tough Task for Matt Ryan
Without his security blanket, veteran quarterback Matt Ryan will have his work cut out for him against a tough Buffalo front seven. The Bills have racked up 25 sacks so far and will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing Indy’s inconsistent offensive line.
With Pittman out, look for Ryan to rely more heavily on the quick passing game and screen plays to neutralize the Bills’ pass rush. Rookie running back Deon Jackson, who has flashed potential as a receiver, could see an expanded role.
If Indianapolis has any chance of staging the upset, they’ll need Ryan to be at his cerebral best, making quick reads and distributing the ball to all of his playmakers. It’s a tall order without #11 in the lineup, but one the Colts will have to answer to keep their playoff hopes afloat.
Pittman’s Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the Colts have to hope that sitting Pittman this week will help him get healthier for the stretch run. The former second-round pick is under contract through 2025 after signing a lucrative extension this past offseason.
When asked about his long-term prognosis, Pittman remained optimistic:
“I’m doing everything I can to get right, not just for this season but for the rest of my career. I love this team and this city. I’m not going to let them down.”
For now though, he’ll have to do his cheering from the sidelines. The Colts and Bills kick off from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park this Sunday at 1:00 PM on CBS.
