Colts Star Player Unhappy with Involvement in Loss to Browns
The Indianapolis Colts fell dramatically to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon by a narrow score of 39-38.
While Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew was responsible for four turnovers on the day, it was a couple of questionable calls on the Colts' defense near the conclusion of the game that stole most headlines.
However, something that Indianapolis Star writer Nate Atkins discovered during a postgame interview adds another element to this tough loss for the Colts. It appears that Indy’s top wide receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., wasn’t the happiest with his usage in the losing effort at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Atkins posted on X, “Michael Pittman Jr. turned in a 75-yard TD for the longest play of his career, but he told me that he thought he could put the offense on his back before that.
‘They just didn’t target me today, for whatever reason. Maybe I’m not a big part of the offense.’”
This is not what the Colts want to hear from Pittman. However, he could justifiably feel that he might have given the offense an edge with more involvement. Pittman would later say to Atkins, "When I do get the ball, I feel like I always do something with it. Just know that I'm viable to break off a big one in any situation vs. any team. I'm just trying to show the coaches that I'm out there, too."
"It was frustrating. I was frustrated," Pittman said. "I was just trying to keep my composure to myself and not try to project that onto anybody else."
During the game against Cleveland, Pittman would catch only 2 passes, but for a fantastic 83 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. He would also be the second-most targeted receiver in the game (5) behind fellow pass-catcher Josh Downs (6).
The Browns have a blistering secondary and pass defense, so this could have been their gameplan, to remove Pittman through intricate coverage schemes given that he’s the biggest receiving threat for the Colts. It appears that, despite still getting five looks from Minshew, Pittman felt that he should have been thrown at far more often.
It’s difficult to say at this point whether or not Minshew could have realistically found Pittman more. It’s hard to think that a veteran like Minshew would miss Pittman if he were open, especially when throwing in the fact that he still leads Indianapolis through seven games on the season in catches (42), receiving yards (489), targets (65), and receiving TDs (tied-2 with Downs).
Was this a product of a frustrated receiver feeling that he could’ve won the game for the Colts? Or, is this an underlying feeling that Pittman has had and it’s just now coming to light? It’s been an up-and-down year already for the Colts and Week 8 isn’t even here.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out for Pittman in head coach Shane Steichen’s offense. Look for the Colts’ top receiving threat to be more involved when Indianapolis hosts the New Orleans Saints next Sunday afternoon.
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