The Indianapolis Colts head into a rare Sunday morning matchup in Week 10, and while the early kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons is unusual, the bigger question is whether their top wideout will be on the field. Michael Pittman Jr. opened the week on the injury report, and although early signs point toward optimism, nothing is officially settled yet. That uncertainty keeps both fans and fantasy managers waiting for answers.
How Serious Is Michael Pittman’s Glute Injury?
Pittman was listed as a did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of a glute injury, and the Colts did not assign a game designation. The only other receiver on the report was Anthony Gould, who was also held out with a knee issue. For now, Pittman remains the central focus of the team’s injury watch heading into Sunday.
wednesday’s practice report for #ATLvsIND. pic.twitter.com/nTPK9uvvtt
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 5, 2025
The Colts’ practice patterns offer helpful insight. They have shown a consistent tendency to rest veteran players on Wednesdays when they are dealing with minor issues.
Last week, wideout Josh Downs went from no participation on Wednesday to full participation by Thursday, reinforcing the idea that Wednesday absences are often precautionary rather than alarming.
It is difficult to imagine a glute injury severe enough to keep a player out of a Sunday game. That outlook is supported not just by the injury type but by Pittman’s history. He has shown unusual toughness throughout his career, including last season when he played through multiple back fractures that were expected to sideline him.
Pittman’s value to the Colts is backed by both production and independent grading. Through nine games, he leads the team with 68 targets, 52 receptions, 561 yards, and six touchdowns.
The PFSN WR Impact metric gives him a WR Impact Score of 81.9, earning a B- grade for 2025. He ranks 19th among all wide receivers this season and 127th overall since 2019, emphasizing how important he is to the Colts’ offense.
That level of production is not easily replaced. Pittman is the most targeted player on the roster and the receiver through whom the offense runs. With the Colts still in the AFC playoff race, sitting him without necessity would create an avoidable competitive setback.
The official game designation will be announced later in the week, but all available evidence suggests that Pittman will play. If he returns to even limited practice on Thursday, that would support the expectation already forming around the team. Even if he remains limited into Friday, recent Colts precedent shows that would not prevent him from being active.
For now, the most reasonable projection is that Pittman will suit up Sunday against Atlanta for the first NFL game ever in Berlin, Germany.
