Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who successfully cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol last Friday, will not be participating in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately, Pittman experienced additional concussion symptoms after the team arrived in Atlanta.
Pittman, the Colts’ leading receiver with an impressive 99 receptions this season, suffered a severe hit during last Saturday’s match against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This hit resulted in the ejection and subsequent suspension of safety Damontae Kazee.
Following the blow to his head and neck area, Pittman, though slow to get up, left the game after being diagnosed with a concussion. Throughout the week, he progressed swiftly through the concussion protocol, meeting all the necessary requirements. On Friday, he was officially cleared to play after passing an independent neurological exam conducted by an unaffiliated specialist and the Colts’ medical staff. However, Pittman’s availability for the game was uncertain due to a shoulder injury that limited him during Friday’s practice.
Despite expectations that Pittman would play, Coach Shane Steichen declared him out of the game on Sunday. Pittman now faces the possibility of restarting the concussion protocol and progressing through the five-step process in the upcoming week.
During Friday’s remarks, Pittman revealed that he couldn’t recall the hit he sustained, stating, “I honestly never saw him coming. I was diving, I caught it, and then all of a sudden, I woke up, and there were people looking down at me. I was like, ‘Oh, s—, what just happened?'”
The hit resulted in Kazee’s ejection from the game and a subsequent suspension without pay for the remainder of the regular season, amounting to a forfeiture of approximately $208,000 in salary.
Reflecting on the incident, Pittman acknowledged the severity of the hit but expressed his belief that Kazee did not intend to cause a life-changing injury. He empathized with the financial consequences faced by Kazee, recognizing that he, too, has a family and the suspension carries a hefty fine.
