Michael Pittman Injury Update, What Happend to Michael Pittman?
by Harini
Updated Aug 26, 2023
Michael Pittman Injury Update
As the training camp commenced on Tuesday, Michael Pittman Jr. was among the players who engaged in a media session. During this interaction, he conveyed positive news to the reporters, stating that his previously concerning hip injury had completely healed.
This development bodes well for Pittman Jr., particularly as he enters a pivotal phase in his career, being in the final year of his current contract. The looming question revolves around whether he will secure a contract extension before the kickoff of the 2023 season.
Despite facing the challenge of adapting to different starting quarterbacks in each of his first three seasons, Pittman Jr.'s accomplishments stand out. With 227 receptions under his belt, he has achieved the highest reception count of any wide receiver in the franchise's history during their respective first three seasons.
In the previous year, the former second-round draft pick achieved a career-high milestone by securing 99 receptions. However, he fell short of reaching the 1,000-yard mark, an outcome influenced by the rotation of three different quarterbacks – namely, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles. Looking ahead, Pittman Jr. finds himself in a situation where he will collaborate with yet another new starting quarterback, potentially either Anthony Richardson or Gardner Minshew.
While the Colts' passing offense faced challenges and ranked among the NFL's weakest during the 2022 season, Pittman Jr. remains motivated to surpass his achievements from the prior year. His dedication to improving his performance is driven by the opportunity to elevate his statistics in the upcoming season despite the challenges posed by changing quarterbacks and the team's recent offensive struggles.
What Happened to Michael Pittman?
According to Michael Pittman Jr. himself, he has successfully recovered from his hip injury. However, he is not currently participating in training camp practices due to the team's cautious approach to his return. The franchise is prioritizing the well-being of their top receiver, and as things stand, he is expected to be ready for the season opener.
With the arrival of a new quarterback, Anthony Richardson, there's a palpable sense of excitement within the Colts. The team is aiming for a turnaround after a disappointing season with Matt Ryan, and they hold high hopes for Richardson's potential to shine as an NFL star.
Regarding the team's offensive strategy, Pittman Jr. is set to benefit significantly from the return of Jonathan Taylor. Additionally, the franchise anticipates valuable contributions from rookie wide receiver Josh Downs, along with Alec Pierce and Isaiah McKenzie.
As training camp kicked off on Tuesday, Michael Pittman Jr. joined fellow players in engaging with the media. He shared positive news about his recovery from a previously concerning hip injury, which is a promising development. This positive trajectory is especially significant as Pittman Jr. navigates a crucial phase in his career, entering the final year of his existing contract. The question of whether he will secure a contract extension before the 2023 season remains a topic of interest.
Pittman Jr.'s achievements stand out, considering the challenges of adapting to different starting quarterbacks in each of his initial three seasons. Impressively, he holds the record for the highest number of receptions by any wide receiver during their first three seasons in the franchise's history, totaling 227 receptions.
Despite achieving a career-high 99 receptions in the previous year, Pittman Jr. fell short of the 1,000-yard mark. The rotation of three different quarterbacks – Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles – played a role in this outcome. Moving forward, Pittman Jr. faces the prospect of collaborating with yet another new starting quarterback, potentially either Anthony Richardson or Gardner Minshew.
While the Colts' passing offense encountered challenges and ranked among the NFL's weakest in the 2022 season, Pittman Jr. remains resolute in his determination to surpass his prior achievements. He is committed to enhancing his performance in the upcoming season, despite the complexities posed by quarterback changes and the team's offensive struggles.
Michael Pittman Jr. Stats
Year
Team
REC
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
YDS
AVG
2022
Colts
99
925
9.3
28
4
30
10.0
2021
Colts
88
1,082
12.3
57
6
44
8.8
2020
Colts
40
503
12.6
45
1
26
8.7
Career
Career
227
2,510
11.1
57
11
100
9.1
About Michael Pittman Jr.
Michael Pittman Jr. is an American football wide receiver who plays for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on October 5, 1997, and he played college football at the University of Southern California (USC). Pittman Jr. was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has shown promising performances during his time in the NFL, becoming a key player in the Colts' offense.
Name
Michael Pittman Jr.
Born:
October 5, 1997
Age:
25 years
Birthplace:
Bakersfield, California, United States
Parents:
Michael Pittman Sr., Kristin Randall
School:
University of Southern California
Current Team:
Indianapolis Colts
Height:
1.93 m
Weight:
101 kg
Michael Pittman Jr. Career
Pittman's journey with the Indianapolis Colts began when he was chosen as the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He marked his professional debut on September 13, 2020, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. During the game, he secured two receptions for ten yards in a game that ended in a 27–20 loss for his team. However, his progress faced a setback as he landed on the injured reserve list on October 3, 2020, due to calf compartment syndrome. Nevertheless, he bounced back and was reactivated on October 31.
During Week 9, in a match against the Baltimore Ravens, Pittman showcased his skills by making four receptions for 56 yards in a 24-10 loss. The highlight of his rookie season came in Week 10 when he achieved his first 100-yard game. He managed seven receptions for an impressive 101 yards during the 34–17 victory against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. This achievement marked him as the first Colts' rookie to hit 100 receiving yards in a game since Donte Moncrief in 2014. Pittman's performance continued to shine as he played against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, where he caught three passes for 66 yards and scored his first career touchdown reception on a 45-yard pass play. The game ended in a 34–31 victory for the Colts. Concluding his rookie season on a positive note, Pittman accumulated 40 catches for a total of 503 yards.
Moving into the 2021 season, Pittman's momentum remained strong. In a Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, he achieved a career-best performance by hauling in eight passes for an impressive 123 yards. The momentum continued as he scored his second career touchdown in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, where he recorded six receptions for 89 yards in a 31-25 loss. Pittman's impact on the Colts' offense became more evident as he exceeded 100 receiving yards for the third time in his career during a Week 7 Sunday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers. He managed to secure four passes for 105 yards, including a game-sealing touchdown catch that contributed to the Colts' 30-18 win.
His remarkable performance continued into the following week's overtime game against the Tennessee Titans, where he achieved career-highs with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 86 yards. Within a span of one minute, he also scored two touchdowns, showcasing his prowess on the field However, not all moments were positive, as Pittman was ejected during a Week 14 win against the New England Patriots for his involvement in a fight with Patriots safety Kyle Dugger. Despite this, his efforts were recognized, and he earned the status of a 2022 Pro Bowl alternate on December 23, 2021. The season concluded on a high note as Pittman broke the 1,000 receiving yards mark during the Colts' Week 17 loss against the Las Vegas Raiders. This achievement made him the sixth Colts' pass catcher since 2000 to reach this milestone.
Michael Pittman Jr. Twitter
Michael Pittman Injury Update- FAQs
Michael Pittman Jr. had a minor hip issue and he recently mentioned that he was healed.
The Colts are taking a cautious approach given the early offseason stage to ensure Pittman Jr.'s well-being, with the expectation that the issue will be resolved before training camp.
While Jonathan Taylor faces contract extension concerns and has expressed a desire for a trade, Michael Pittman Jr. is practicing without issues and has a composed attitude towards contract negotiations, being open to both extension and playing without one.