The reports of Michael Pittman's injury were greatly exaggerated.
The Indianapolis Colts wide receiver not only didn't go on injured reserve due to a back injury, but he also played Sunday and made two of the biggest plays in Indy's 20-17 road win over Tennessee.
"He's got to be one of the toughest players I've played with," Joe Flacco said, noting he'd seen an alert on his phone during the week that Pittman would go on IR due to a back injury.
For a quarterback who has played with the likes of Steve Smith Sr., Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Anquan Boldin and many others to put Pittman in that toughness stratosphere says a lot.
"When you have guys like that, you can go a long way," Flacco said, via the team's official website. "That's the kind of guy you need to play winning football. And he's unbelievable for that."
Playing through the back injury after missing practice early in the week and being designated as questionable, Pittman's box score isn't eye-catching, with three grabs for 35 yards and a touchdown. But how those final two catches came said a lot.
With Indy's offense scuttling in the fourth quarter, Pittman boxed out L'Jarius Sneed in the end zone and came down with a challenging catch to put the Colts ahead. Later, after Indianapolis went three-and-out twice with a chance to salt away the victory, Pittman caught another tight-window pass versus Sneed to move the chains and milk the clock to essentially clinch the win.
"(He's) the toughest guy I've ever been around," head coach Shane Steichen said.
Added Steichen of Pittman's ability to play through the injury: "It's huge. This league is a tough, physical league and he shows that. It's great for guys in the locker room to see that, that he battles through stuff. He's just a warrior."
Pittman, who has long been overlooked when discussions of the top receivers in the game roll around, dismissed the overflowing praise from his coach and teammates.
"I wouldn't give myself that much credit," Pittman said when asked about Steichen's comment. "I'm just gonna keep showing up and whatever opportunities come, try to make the most of them, just go out there and try to help us win."
The humble nature of the trusty receiver is what makes the Colts' investment in him during the offseason -- three years, $71 million -- worth every penny.
"Pitt's my favorite receiver in the league, and I tell him that all the time," linebacker Zaire Franklin said. "It's not because of highlight plays that he's made, even though he's got a few, it's because he plays the game how it's supposed to be played. He takes pride in being there for his teammates. He takes pride in being a leader, and he takes pride in being the toughest (person) out there."
The victory pushed the Colts to 3-3 and kept them afloat with their first division win after starting 0-2 in the AFC South.
