The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL season, with Daniel Jones having a career resurgence. With the offense firing on all cylinders, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been a dominating presence for the Colts, leading the team in receiving.
However, through almost two quarters in the NFL’s international game in Berlin against the Atlanta Falcons, Pittman’s presence has hardly been felt as he’s garnered just one target. Let’s take a look at his slow start.
What Happened to Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.?
No, Pittman is not injured; he just hasn’t been involved yet in an offense that’s allowed other weapons to find space. Up until their final drive in the first half, Pittman had not gotten a target from Jones, making his nine-yard catch at the end of the second quarter a positive sight to see.
However, while Pittman has been relatively quiet, the Colts have a solid trio of receivers between him, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, who can balance each other out. Despite Pittman’s quiet first half, Pierce has hauled in four of five targets for 84 yards and a pretty 37-yard touchdown.
AP DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE.
📺 NFLN pic.twitter.com/Xxg1y526Sb
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 9, 2025
The underwhelming first half from Pittman is a bit disappointing after his big outing a week ago. The Colts were largely a mess in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Pittman recorded his first 100-yard performance of the season and earned 9+ targets for a third consecutive game.
Through nine weeks, Pittman has caught 52 of 68 targets for 561 yards and six touchdowns. Jones’ consistency under center has helped the Colts maintain momentum as the offense and defense can play off each other’s success. According to PFSN’s WR Impact metric, he is the 19th-ranked receiver in the league this season.
The biggest concern for Indianapolis is how it struggles against good teams. They’ve destroyed the lower-tier teams they’ve played, but losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Steelers are concerning for the postseason longevity of this team. The Colts are down 14-13 heading into the second half against a mediocre Falcons team; they will have to find a way to turn it around.
That starts with getting the other weapons involved in the offense. Pittman was able to haul in his only target, but even Downs only has one catch for three yards on two targets. Jones and head coach Shane Steichen have to figure out ways to get the other two guys in their trio going if they want to make a comeback in the second half.
