Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will return from a one-game absence and be available Sunday against the New York Jets, coach Shane Steichen announced Friday. Steichen ruled out starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann due to a left knee injury he sustained in the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills last week.
Pittman was not available against Buffalo because of a nagging back injury that threatened to send him to injured reserve. After one week on the sideline, Pittman returned to practice this week and was a full participant in every practice for the first time since Week 5.
“When we need something in the clutch, he usually comes up big for us,” Steichen said of Pittman. “He’s come up big for us this year, last year and, obviously, previous years. So it’ll be good to get him back out there.”
Pittman, who signed a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March, has not looked like the No. 1 receiver he’s established himself as in recent years. The 27-year-old has just 30 catches for 366 yards and two touchdowns through his first nine games this season. Pittman registered only two catches for 30 yards over his last two games before sitting against the Bills.
The wide receiver’s return against the Jets coincides with quarterback Anthony Richardson being reinserted into the starting lineup over veteran Joe Flacco. Richardson was benched for two weeks, while Flacco committed a combined six turnovers in back-to-back losses, because Steichen wanted Richardson to take his game preparation more seriously. Steichen believes the 22-year-old improved in that area during his demotion, and several of Richardson’s teammates said they never lost faith in the second-year pro regaining his status as QB1.
“We knew that when (the benching) did happen a couple weeks back, we knew it wasn’t something that was gonna be permanent,” Pittman said Wednesday. “(Richardson) is our guy, and he’s gonna be the guy going forward for a very long time here. So, I think it’s good that we get him in there.”
#Colts HC Shane Steichen on QB Anthony Richardson’s preparation this week:
“Phenomenal. He’s done a great job. Obviously, it’s stacked in the last two weeks and then this week (I’ve) seen great growth. Like I’ve said, not a finished product, but he had a phenomenal week …” pic.twitter.com/S56AE6uUKu
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 15, 2024
Richardson’s 44.4 percent completion rate still ranks last in the NFL and may be an issue against the Jets, who have allowed the third-lowest completion percentage (59.9) in the league. However, Richardson’s elusiveness as a dual-threat quarterback will be welcome as the Colts will most likely start three rookie offensive linemen against the Jets. Rookies Tanor Bortolini and Dalton Tucker have started multiple games at center and right guard, respectively. Left tackle Matt Goncalves, who started in Week 9 at Minnesota, will likely make his second NFL start Sunday in place of Raimann. Steichen believes Raimann is “week to week” with his knee injury, but he expressed confidence in Goncalves.
“Once you’re out there for a little bit, then you can kind of go out again and tell yourself that you can do this and you’ve done this before,” Goncalves said of having played 108 snaps this year. “It’s definitely something that can help you for sure.”
Required reading
• As Colts turn back to Anthony Richardson, young QB must remember ‘superpowers’ aren’t enough
• Colts leaders growing frustrated, but they haven’t lost faith in Shane Steichen
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(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
