AP Source: Michael Pittman Jr.'s back injury adds new concern to Colts growing injury list
The Indianapolis Colts began Week 6 in another holding patternOCTOBER 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Michael Pittman Jr. - Could miss time with back injury Pittman is dealing with a back injury that could sideline him multiple weeks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact Per Schefter, IR is a possibility for Pittman, who missed Wednesday's practice. If he indeed misses time, Josh Downs (toe) and Alec Pierce would be in line to lead the Colts' WR corps in his absence, with Adonai Mitchell and Ashton Dulin candidates for added snaps in that scenario.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Downs - Absent Wednesday, as is Pittman Downs (toe) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.
Impact Downs picked up the toe injury in the Colts' Week 5 loss to Jacksonville, and it kept him off the practice field Wednesday. Michael Pittman (back) also didn't practice Wednesday. Both starting wide receivers will have two more opportunities to practice before the Colts publish their Week 6 injury report ahead of Sunday's road game in Tennessee.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Trey Sermon - Misses Wednesday's practice Sermon (collarbone) didn't practice Wednesday.
Impact The same applies to top RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle), who Sermon helped fill in for during Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Jaguars. The duo's status is thus worth tracking closely as this weekend's game against the Titans approaches, but for now Tyler Goodson is the top healthy back on the Colts' active roster, while Evan Hull and Trent Pennix are currently on the team's practice squad.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Pittman Jr. - DNP due to back Wednesday Pittman (back) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.
Impact The Colts put out a lengthy injury report Wednesday that included Pittman and Josh Downs (toe; DNP) at wide receiver, as well as Jonathan Taylor (ankle; DNP) and Trey Sermon (collarbone; DNP) and quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique; LP). All of those players except Taylor and Richardson are new additions, so it wouldn't be surprising if Pittman and the others increased their practice participation as the week unfolds. Adding an injury to the mix is far from ideal from a fantasy perspective for Pittman considering he has a daunting Week 6 matchup against a stingy Titans secondary led by cornerback L'Jarius Sneed.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Richardson - Remains limited in practice Richardson (oblique) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Impact Richardson was a limited participant all last week, with reports suggesting he didn't do much and didn't appear likely to play The Colts listed him as questionable on the Friday injury report, before downgrading him to doubtful and ultimately deeming him inactive. Richardson said Wednesday that he was never close to playing in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville, but he did manage a pre-game workout and now has a real shot to play this coming Sunday against the Titans, per Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star. Coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Richardson will be the starting QB as soon as he's healthy, even though the offense has performed well under the guidance of veteran Joe Flacco.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Kelly - Cleared from injury Kelly (neck) was a full participant during practice Wednesday.
Impact Kelly has missed the Colts' last two games, but after logging a full practice Friday, he should be set to play Sunday against the Titans. With his return to play, Indianapolis will get back its starting center, moving Tanor Bortolini back to a depth role.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Downs - Dealing with toe injury Downs injured his toe during Sunday's 37-34 loss to Jacksonville, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Impact Downs either suffered the injury at the end of the game or was able to play through it, as he finished with nine catches for 69 yards on 12 targets and remained active into the fourth quarter. He's now absent at the start of Wednesday's practice as the Colts begin preparations for a matchup with the Titans this Sunday.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Richardson - Set to practice Wednesday Richardson (oblique) is slated to practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Richardson was listed as a limited practice participant all of last week prior to being deemed inactive ahead of the Colts' 37-34 loss to the Jaguars, with Joe Flacco picking up the start in his stead. The team's first Week 6 injury report will be released later Wednesday and will reveal whether Richardson is able to upgrade his participation level. In any case, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Richardson will reclaim starting duties for the Colts once healthy enough to play, per James Boyd of The Athletic.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Richardson - Set to practice Wednesday Richardson (oblique) is slated to practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Richardson was a limited practice participant last week prior to being deemed inactive for the Colts' Week 5 loss to the Jaguars, which was started by Joe Flacco. The team's upcoming injury report will reveal whether Richardson is able to upgrade his participation level, but either way, coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Richardson will reclaim the team's starting QB role when he's healthy enough to play.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Not practicing to begin Week 6 Taylor (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Taylor, who missed this past Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Jaguars, has two more chances to return to practice ahead of this weekend's game against the Titans. If the running back is forced to miss a second straight game, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson would be in line to share backfield duties for the Colts in Week 6.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Still not practicing Taylor (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Taylor, who missed this past Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Jaguars, has two more chances to return to practice ahead of this weekend's game against the Titans. If the running back is forced to miss a second straight game, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson would be in line to handle the Colts' Week 6 backfield duties.
OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
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David Long - Getting promotion to active roster Indianapolis signed Long from its practice squad to its active roster Tuesday.
Impact Long has already suited up for both of the Colts' last two games and contributed on special teams, but now he'll have a regular spot on the 53-man depth chart. He's still waiting for his first defensive snap of the season.
OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE
E.J. Speed - Picks up seven tackles in loss Speed recorded seven tackles (six solo), including one tackle for loss, in the Colts' loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Impact Coming off a career-best 12 solo tackles in Week 4 against the Steelers, Speed's seven tackles versus Jacksonville marked a new season-low. On the year, Speed has logged 54 tackles (40 solo) and one QB hit across five starts.
OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE
Zaire Franklin - Logs 10 tackles in loss Franklin recorded 10 tackles (three solo) and one pass breakup in the Colts' loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Impact Franklin once again played every defensive snap versus Jacksonville, and it was his third game with double-digit tackles. Coming off a career-best 179 tackles in 2023, Franklin is averaging 10.2 tackles per game through five contests, but he's done little else in the box score, with just one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Richardson - Will start again when healthy Coach Shane Steichen said Monday that Richardson (oblique) "is our starting quarterback" when he returns to full health, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Richardson took a big hit to his midsection during a Week 4 win against the Steelers and has been sidelined since. Veteran backup Joe Flacco has fared well in his place, completing 49 of 70 passes for 527 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions over the course of seven-and-a-half quarters. The good play won't equate to further starts for Flacco once Richardson is healthy, but it does give the Colts the luxury of not rushing the second-year pro back into action. He'll likely need to bump up his activity level this week in order to have a chance of suiting up this coming Sunday at Tennessee.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Richardson - Will start again when healthy Coach Shane Steichen said Monday that Richardson (oblique) "is our starting quarterback" when he returns to full health, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Richardson took a big hit to his midsection during a Week 4 win against the Steelers that has sidelined him in the meantime. Veteran backup Joe Flacco has fared well since then, completing 49 of 70 passes for 527 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions over the course of seven-and-a-half quarters. The good play won't equate to further starts for Flacco once Richardson is good to go, but the second-year pro likely will need to bump up his activity level this week from the trio of limited practices he managed last week in order to suit up again this coming Sunday at Tennessee.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Shoddy defense remains major problem as Colts lose another division game and fall below .500
Joe Flacco and his teammates on offense certainly did their part at JacksonvilleOCTOBER 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nick Cross - Snags interception in loss Cross had five total tackles and an interception in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Impact Cross didn't pile up the tackle totals of his first three games (39 total tackles), but came up with an interception. Cross should get plenty of tackle opportunities if the Indy defense continues to struggle against the run.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Ashton Dulin - One carry in loss Dulin had one carry for nine yards but didn't have any targets in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Impact Dulin played on 15 of the offense's 70 snaps as the Colts frequented three- and four-receiver sets playing from behind much of the game. Dulin is a key special-teams player, but he won't get many more snaps per game on offense barring injuries elsewhere in the receiving corps.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Will Mallory - Gets first reception of season Mallory had one reception for seven yards on his only target in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville. It was his first reception this season.
Impact After being inactive the first three games, he's played the last two games. He played on 16 of the offense's 70 snaps and went out on 13 routes. The Colts continue to divide targets and snaps between three or four tight ends (Kylen Granson played 18 snaps, Mo Alie-Cox played 29, Drew Ogletree played 26). As long as the workload is divided between three our four tight ends, none will have viable fantasy value for most formats.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Ogletree - Just one reception in loss Ogletree had one reception for five yards on his only target in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Impact Ogletree played on 26 of the offense's 70 snaps and went out on nine routes. The Colts continue to divide targets and snaps between three tight ends (Kylen Granson played 18 snaps, Mo Alie-Cox played 29, Will Mallory played 16). Alie-Cox caught a touchdown in the loss where Ogletree caught a touchdown in Week 4. As long as the workload is divided between three our four tight ends, none will have viable fantasy value for most formats.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Mo Alie-Cox - Catches TD in loss Alie-Cox had two receptions for 37 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown, in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Impact Alie-Cox didn't play more than usual (33% of the offense's snaps) but had a season-high four targets with Joe Flacco taking over at quarterback. He had three targets total through the first four games. While Alie-Cox could get more targets if Flacco remains the starter, he's not likely to provide much more outside of an occasional red-zone target. Even then, the Colts still divide playing time and targets evenly between three tight ends.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Adonai Mitchell - Four receptions in loss Mitchell had four receptions for 38 yards on seven targets and one carry for four yards in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Impact Mitchell surprisingly played on 19 of the offense's 79 snaps and had seven targets after having no receptions and four targets combined the prior two games with the return of Josh Downs from an ankle injury. Mitchell had another drop and mixed performance, so he may struggle to find steady work as the No. 4 receiver with the top three receivers healthy.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
