Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. clarifies comments – Not a ‘good loser’

Pittman, the leading receiver for the Colts, expressed his dissatisfaction with his involvement in the offense during an interview with an Indianapolis Star reporter. Among other things, he stated, “They didn’t target me today, for whatever reason. Maybe I’m not a significant part of the offense.”

Pittman convened a press conference in the Colts’ locker room on Wednesday to provide further explanation for his statements.

“Obviously, the loss was incredibly frustrating, especially given the manner in which it happened,” Pittman commented on the Browns’ 39-38 victory. “I have always struggled with losing. I am, quite honestly, a poor sport. It is something I have been working on throughout my life, but sometimes it gets the better of me. Losing can cause me to lose my composure and become overly dramatic.”

Pittman, known for his competitiveness and on-field confrontations with opponents, leads the Colts in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. During Sunday’s game, he had five targets and two catches, including a 75-yard touchdown where he eluded two defenders.

Given these facts, his comments came as a surprise to many, and Pittman acknowledged this.

“It is apparent that I play a crucial role in this offense,” Pittman stated. “I am the team leader in targets and various other statistics. My remarks were made out of frustration, and I simply wanted to clarify that I love playing here in Indy. I am excited for the upcoming week.”

Pittman is currently in the final year of his rookie contract, which presents an intriguing decision for the Colts after the season. The organization has not made a significant investment in a wide receiver in recent years, making Pittman the first player of this nature to be considered during general manager Chris Ballard’s seven-year tenure.

Pittman has had to adapt to multiple quarterback changes, having played with seven different starting quarterbacks in his four seasons. Additionally, this season brought the season-ending shoulder injury of Anthony Richardson, leaving Gardner Minshew to take over.

“I have demonstrated consistency despite the constant changes within the team,” Pittman remarked. “The connection between the receiver and quarterback is critical, and unfortunately, we haven’t had that stability. Richardson’s injury has forced us to make adjustments, so we will see how things unfold.

“But for now, Gardner is leading the team, and I believe he is doing an excellent job. Our offensive statistics place us in the top 10 in nearly every category, which is a testament to his performance.”