Pittman became the go-to target for Gardner Minshew in 2023. He earned 156 targets and turned them into 109 receptions and 1,110 receiving yards. His 30% target share ranked him among the league leaders. In 2024, his outlook changes with the Colts moving on from Minshew and Anthony Richardson returning to the lineup as the starter. There is more variance in Pittman's profile after the team added Adonai Mitchell at WR in the draft and because it's unknown how Richardson will distribute the football. Pittman is a third-round pick in Fantasy drafts but he has a lower floor than most WRs coming off the board in this range.
Pittman (knee) participated in Thursday's training camp practice, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
With Pittman past a minor knee issue that he encountered during OTAs, the 26-year-old worked with the Colts' first-team offense alongside fellow WRs Josh Downs and Alec Pierce on Thursday. As the coming campaign approaches, Pittman is slated to reprise his role as a primary target in an Indy passing attack that will be helmed by promising second-year QB Anthony Richardson. In 16 regular-season contests in 2023, Pittman caught 109 of his 156 targets for 1,152 yards and four TDs. It remains to be seen if the pace of Pittman's volume from last year is sustainable, but it's nonetheless reasonable to expect the 2020 second-rounder to continue to garner enough targets to maintain weekly fantasy utility this season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Knee issue downplayed
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pittman (knee) "should be fine" after he left the practice field early Wednesday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
Steichen said Pittman "just bumped knees" during 11-on-11 drills. The Colts have no incentive to rush Pittman -- who's fresh off signing a three-year, $70 million extension -- back on the field, so it's possible he misses more of OTAs. Still, the No. 1 wideout ought to have plenty of opportunities to build chemistry with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson this offseason, as long as his knee injury is indeed only minor. Pittman managed a 109-1,152-4 receiving line across 16 games last season despite substandard quarterback play, so having a healthy Richardson back under center should raise his fantasy ceiling.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Inking three-year extension
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Pittman has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The team had previously placed its franchise tag on Pittman, but evidently since then the two sides have been working toward a long-term deal. Per Rapoport, the wideout's looming new contract can reach up to $71.5 million and includes $46 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old is coming off a 2023 regular season in which he posted a career-high 109-1,152-4 line on 156 targets in 16 games. With Pittman staying in the fold in 2024 and beyond, the Colts have secured valuable stability at the wide receiver position, a context that no doubt will benefit the development of young franchise QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder).
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Leads team with five catches
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Pittman corralled five of six targets for 44 yards in Saturday's 23-19 loss to the Texans.
Those deploying Pittman in fantasy were unfortunately charged with a lost fumble on the final play of regulation when the Colts were attempting to return a kickoff using multiple laterals. Indianapolis' top wideout still led the club in catches Saturday, ending his 2023 campaign with a new career high of 109 receptions over 16 games. Pittman also set a new high-water mark in yards this year (1,152), but his four touchdowns fell short of the six he scored in 2021. The USC product picked an excellent time to set new career marks, as he will enter the upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: WRs to Start
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Pittman scored 13.6 PPR points at Houston in Week 2 when he caught eight passes for 56 yards on 12 targets. He's now scored at least 12 PPR points in each of his past three games against the Texans, with two touchdowns, and he should do well against them again in Week 18. Since Week 10, a span of eight games, 11 receivers have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against Houston, with five scoring at least 19.7 PPR points, and the Texans have allowed eight touchdowns to receivers over that span.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Team-high five grabs Sunday
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Pittman caught five of seven targets for 46 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Raiders.
The Indy passing attack took a back seat to Jonathan Taylor and the ground game, but Pittman still led the team in catches and targets. The fourth-year wideout set new career highs in receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,108) on the season in the process, and with the Colts locked in a three-way tie atop the AFC South, Pittman may need to come up big in Week 18 against the Texans.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Clears concussion protocol
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has cleared the NFL's protocol for head injuries and is in line to play against the Raiders on Sunday, barring any setbacks, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
The Colts' final injury report of the week will confirm whether Pittman approaches the contest with a designation or fully cleared to face Las Vegas, but at this stage it appears as though the team's top pass catcher will return to the lineup following a one-game absence.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Logs full practice
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant Thursday.
Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Pittman wasn't sporting a non-contact jersey Thursday, which suggests the wideout is progressing well ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders. The Colts haven't yet indicated that Pittman has been removed from concussion protocol, as the wideout may still need to receive clearance from an independent neurologist before getting the green light to play Sunday. More clarity on Pittman's status should come when head coach Shane Steichen speaks to the media Friday.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Practicing Thursday with contact
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was spotted taking part in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, so his continued presence on the field a day later bodes well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Raiders. According to Boyd, Pittman wasn't sporting a non-contact jersey Thursday, suggesting that he's taken another step forward in the five-step concussion protocol. The Colts will release their second Week 17 injury report later Thursday, when the extent of Pittman's practice participation will be known.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Limited on estimate Wednesday
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
Pittman remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will likely need to upgrade to full participation either Thursday or Friday in addition to gaining clearance from an independent neurologist to have a chance at playing in Sunday's game against the Raiders. Still, limited participation in Wednesday's walk-through is certainly better than a no-show for the Colts' No. 1 receiver, who passed concussion protocol last Friday but sat out Sunday's loss to the Falcons after his symptoms resurfaced Saturday.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Remains in protocol Wednesday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday that Pittman (shoulder) remains in concussion protocol, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Steichen added that Pittman is "progressing well," but the coach had similar sentiments heading into the Colts' previous game before the wideout's symptoms resurfaced Saturday and forced him to sit out a 29-10 Week loss to the Falcons. Pittman will have to clear the five-step protocol to have a chance to play Sunday against the Raiders in a pivotal game for the 8-7 Colts' playoff hopes.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Symptoms return, out Sunday
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game in Atlanta.
Pittman was on the receiving end of a big hit from Steelers safety Damontae Kazee in the second quarter of last Saturday's game and was unable to return. While he cleared the concussion protocol as of Friday, Pittman still entered the weekend as questionable for Week 16 action. After he reported a recurrence of symptoms Saturday, though, he's back in the protocol for head injuries, which he'll be subject to in order to be able to play again this season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Questionable with shoulder issue
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Pittman (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons after logging a limited practice Friday.
Per Raven Moore of the Colts' official site, Pittman cleared the NFL's concussion protocol Friday, but the team's top wide receiver is still dealing with a shoulder issue. As a result, his status will need to be verified ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. If Pittman ends up sitting out this weekend, added pass-catching opportunities would be available for Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and D.J. Montgomery.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Exits protocol, will play Sunday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Friday that Pittman has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and will be available Sunday against the Falcons, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
After being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, Pittman took part in a full-contact session Thursday. He apparently passed the final step of the protocol -- gaining clearance from an independent neurologist -- before or after Friday's practice, so he's now on track to continue leading the Colts' receiving corps Week 16. The fourth-year wideout has produced a fantasy-friendly 99-1,062-4 receiving line on 143 targets through 14 appearances this season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Close to clearing protocol
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Pittman could clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol as soon as Friday, potentially putting him on track to enter Sunday's game against the Falcons without a designation, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Pittman went through a full-contact practice Thursday, passing through the fourth step of the protocol after he exited last week's win over the Steelers due to the concussion. If he gains clearance from an independent neurologist, Pittman will be removed from the protocol and should reprise his role as Gardner Minshew's top target this weekend in a game that could prove crucial for the 8-6 Colts' playoff hopes.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Practices fully Thursday
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Pittman (concussion) was listed as a full participant at Thursday's practice.
Per Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis, Pittman still needs to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to suit up Sunday against the Falcons. However, Pittman looks to be trending toward playing this weekend, especially after he was cleared to take contact in Thursday's practice, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Limited on Wednesday's estimate
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Pittman (concussion) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
The fact that Pittman is estimated as a practice participant to any extent is an encouraging sign, though he will need to return to full participation at some point over the next two days in addition to gaining clearance from an independent neurologist in order to exit the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and potentially play Sunday against the Falcons. Pittman recorded four catches for 78 yards on five targets in last Saturday's 30-13 win over the Steelers before exiting the contest after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Doing 'good' in concussion recovery
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Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Sunday that Pittman is in concussion protocol and added that the wideout is "doing good" and will be monitored throughout the week leading up to the Colts' Week 16 game against the Falcons, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Pittman sustained the concussion midway through the second quarter of Saturday's 30-13 win over the Steelers, when he took the brunt of a helmet-to-helmet hit by Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee, who broke up the intended pass. The Colts ruled Pittman out for the game shortly thereafter, with the wideout finishing with four catches for 78 yards on five targets. Pittman will benefit from having seven days rather than the typical six days in between games to potentially clear the five-step protocol, but if he's not available for the matchup with the Falcons, the Colts will be left with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and D.J. Montgomery as their projected starting receivers.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Stays busy in Week 14 loss
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Pittman brought in eight of 11 targets for 95 yards in the Colts' 34-14 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also recorded a two-point conversion catch.
Pittman put together a signature performance that saw him once again serve as the busiest pass catcher on the Colts. The fourth-year pro led the team across the board in three major receiving categories, and he's now posted at least eight receptions in six straight games. Pittman will head into a Week 15 Saturday afternoon matchup against the Steelers just five receptions away from his first 100-reception campaign, as well as only 16 yards short of his second 1,000-yard season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Commands 16 more targets
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Pittman recorded 11 receptions on 16 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-28 overtime win over the Titans.
Pittman saw a season-high 16 targets and managed double-digit looks for the eighth time in 12 contests. He also managed his second consecutive 100-yard performance despite his longest gain going for only 14 yards. As is appropriate given Pittman's heavy involvement in the Colts' offense, he also caught a four-yard touchdown pass to win the game in overtime. While he may not have the same ceiling as the most elite pass catchers in the league, Pittman now has at least eight receptions in five straight games and has a very safe floor.
