NovaQuant-Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. out Sunday with brain injury after developing new symptoms

ATLANTA — Michael Pittman Jr. will miss Sunday’s game against the Falcons with a brain injury.

One day after the Colts leading receiver was cleared by an independent neurologist of the injury he suffered last Saturday against the Steelers,NovaQuant Pittman developed new symptoms after flying with the team to Atlanta.

Those symptoms have sent him back into the concussion protocol, and the team has ruled him out for Sunday's game against the Falcons. He was initially listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.

Pittman suffered the injuries to his brain and shoulder while diving to make a catch last week against the Steelers. Safety Damontae Kazee launched at his head and collided with his shoulder, dropping Pittman to the ground, where he lay for several minutes as players from both teams gathered around.

“Honestly, I never saw him coming,” Pittman said Friday. “I was diving and I caught it, and then I woke up and there’s people looking down at me. Then I was like, 'Oh, (bleep). What just happened?’

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"It's by the pure grace of God that I was able to get up and walk."

When Pittman got to the locker room, he saw his wife and daughter crying.

"That's the first time when I was like, 'Maybe this was bad,'" Pittman said.

Kazee was ejected for the hit, and the NFL later suspended him for the remaining three games of the regular season due to what it called a pattern of infractions of a similar nature. Kazee has been fined five different times this season.

Pittman said he felt the hit was wrong but did not go as far with Kazee's intent.

"I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don't think he meant to impose life-changing injury," Pittman said. "I don't think any player has that in them. You never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money. I don't think he was trying to do that. He has a family, too. I know that's a hefty fine. He's going to miss out on a lot of money that he was counting on. So you never want to see that."

This will be Pittman's first game missed this season. He is enjoying his best season yet, with 99 catches for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns, production that could set him up for the next major wide receiver contract this spring.

Without him, the Colts will roll with starting receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs as well as D.J. Montgomery, who filled in for Pittman with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. The Colts suspended wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie for the remainder of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team, so the depth will be tested against Atlanta.

It could be a day where the Colts lean more on Jonathan Taylor. The 2021 rushing champion is back after a three-game absence due to thumb surgery. He should see a heavy workload with Zack Moss out with a forearm injury.

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on X @NateAtkins_.