During last week’s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts was the victim of a nasty hit that forced him to leave the game early. Damontae Kazee, the defensive back, was suspended for the duration of the regular season and expelled for the hit.
A serious injury might have resulted from Kazee’s terrifying hit. Pittman, happily, is OK and will be able to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Pittman addressed the hit this week, stating he couldn’t recall the exact moment of impact.
Pittman reportedly remarked, “I honestly never saw him coming,” according to ESPN. “I was diving when I suddenly woke up and saw everyone staring down at me. I had caught it. “Oh my god, what just happened?” was how I felt.
Pittman claimed that until he saw the play after it had already happened, he was unaware of its importance. The fourth-year wide receiver claimed that when his wife and daughter saw him in the locker room, they were in tears.
“That’s the first time that I was like, ‘Maybe this was bad,'” Pittman stated.
Pittman disagrees that Kazee will miss the rest of the 2023 season due to his suspension, even if he acknowledges that the hit was worthy of a punishment.
“I think it was not a clean hit, but I don’t necessarily want them to suspend him and him lose out on everything,” Pittman stated.
“I believe they were pursuing him, but I don’t believe he intended to cause a permanent injury. No player, in my opinion, possesses that quality. And it’s never what you want to see, guys losing that much money and losing games. I am aware that he also has a family, which carries a heavy price.”
Pittman is currently having a breakthrough year. He has caught 99 passes for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games played. The Colts’ chances of winning the AFC South and qualifying for the postseason would have increased if Pittman had sustained a major injury.