Saturday’s NFL clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts saw several notable injuries. One of those came to Colts’ wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., the team’s receiving leader with 984 yards heading into the game. Pittman left the game after a hit to his head from Steelers’ safety Damonte Kazee, which led to Kazee getting tossed:
A brutal hit to the head of Colts star WR Michael Pittman Jr. results in Steelers safety Damontae Kazee being ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/LgbStMlCbu
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 16, 2023
As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that led to Pittman being ruled out with a concussion. And this wasn’t the Colts’ only loss to injury. Running back Zack Moss, the team’s rushing leader with 751 yards heading into this contest, exited with an arm injury. Moss was determined questionable to return, but still wasn’t on the sideline in the third quarter. And he was later downgraded to out.
Meanwhile, the Steelers wound up facing positional depth issues of their own. And that was particularly true at safety, and Kazee’s ejection didn’t help there, with special teams ace Miles Killebrew left as their only safety after an injury to Trenton Thompson:
Trenton Thompson is now down. The Steelers have three safeties hurt, four with Thompson, and Kazee is ejected.
Killebrew is the only safety left on the roster.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) December 16, 2023
So Kazee’s ejection caused Pittsburgh plenty of issues as well. But Pittman’s injury is concerning for Indianapolis not just in this game, but going forward. The Colts and Steelers, both 7-6 entering this game, are locked in a battle for the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. And while Indianapolis picked up 10 unopposed points in the third quarter to extend their lead to 24-13 despite being without Pittman and Moss, those absences could pose issues for them both in this game and down the stretch.
[The Comeback on Twitter]
