Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts, and more specifically its offense, have had no shortage of highlights through each of its games through eight weeks of play. From head coach Shane Steichen pulling out tricks from the deepest parts of his offensive bag to Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones vying for MVP votes, this Colts team is a wagon in large part due to its historically successful offense.
Each position group on that side of the ball has seemingly evolved into all-world talents collectively. The offensive line, with two first-time starters across the interior, is simply mauling people in tandem as they’ve provided countless clean pockets in pass protection while also parting red seas in the run game. As for the passcatchers, the addition of rookie tight end Tyler Warren’s talents certainly has opened things up, but even the wide reciever core of Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs has been at its best.
Most notably, Michael Pittman Jr. is amidst a career year, and is fresh off of his single-best performance yet this season. Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, Pittman Jr. led all Colts receivers with 8 receptions for 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. This is the third instance this season of Pittman Jr. being the Colts’ leading man through the air, two of which have come against Tennessee.
To showcase just how locked in Michael Pittman Jr. was against the Titans on Sunday, and has been all season long, look no further than this 3-play sequence on the Colts’ second touchdown drive. Although not in immediate succession of one another, Pittman Jr. seemingly took over this drive. Quarterback Daniel Jones and the offensive line had to ensure the ball got to him first and foremost, but it was Pittman Jr.’s effort(s) once the ball was in the air that provides understanding how and why he’s always been underrated.
Michael Pittman Jr. is finally getting consistent quarterback play after churning through several quarterbacks throughout his first half-decade in the NFL, and it’s quickly paying dividends for all parties invovled. Every passcatchers within the Colts offense is getting their fair share of targets, yet Pittman Jr. has already tied his season-high in receiving touchdowns (6) through just 8 games. He’s on pace to finish short of season-best total in receiving yards (947), but would shatter his receiving TD (13) and catch percentage numbers (76.8%).
Amongst the league, Michael Pittman Jr. is not even the team’s leader in receiving yardage — that nod currently goes to rookie tight end Tyler Warren — but he ranks with the best of them in a couple of categories. His aforementioned 6 receiving touchdowns so far not only ties his career best, but is good for T-3rd leaguewide while his reception total (43) is tied for the 11-most.
Accusations ran rampant last season of his effort on the field, but later it was revealed by Michael Pittman Jr. himself that he had a minor back fracture that he played through, saying, “We were doing the scan every four weeks but I got a point I didn’t care what the scan says, I’m gonna play either way.” Hindsight bias or not, the mere thought of Pittman Jr. not giving his all was always the crux of such accusatory takes. Regardless, his reasoning is much deeper than a selfish excuse.
“It’s something you go through. I think it was [Andrew] Van Ginkel said that everybody wants to be a dawg until it’s time to do dawg stuff,” Pittman Jr. referenced the saying as doubling as his own mindset. “That’s just what you have to do for the guys. This isn’t a fair-weather sport. Guys like Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, and DeForest Buckner — they deserve my best even when maybe I don’t feel up to it and stuff like that. Also, it’s a privilege to play in this league and I don’t take any game lightly. I’m out there because it’s such a privilege and I take every game seriously. Football is really my life and I would really do anything to play in each and every game.”
The only statistic Michael Pittman Jr. cares about is adding to the win column, but this quick turnaround from a back injury to a career year is both impressive and validating for multiple parties involved, but none more than the Pittman camp. He’s always been a lead by example type, and while his dirty work is often thankless, such team success if forcing eyeballs onto the Colts, and as a result, many are about to understand how underrated Indy’s top wideout has always been.
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