After the regular-season finale against Jacksonville, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman told reporters that an upcoming scan would reveal whether or not he would need back surgery this offseason.
But that won't be necessary, said general manager Chris Ballard on Friday.
“No, he won’t need surgery.” Ballard said. “But he’s a tough guy. Pitt is the example of what you want. Here’s a guy who struggled all season long but made sacrifices for the betterment of the team.”
Pittman struggled with a back injury throughout the season. As he recently detailed, he began experiencing back pain in August during the Colts' joint practice with Arizona.
A scan a few weeks later revealed he had a fracture. It was originally reported that the injury would land Pittman on injured reserve, but he decided to play through the injury instead.
From that point on, Pittman's status was reviewed week by week and his availability depended on how he was doing. However, he would only miss one game over the course of the season.
Pittman finished the 2023 season catching 69 passes for 808 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts' final two games of the season were two of Pittman's best games. He totaled 181 yards on 15 receptions and one score against the Giants and Jaguars.
“You have to be able to make sacrifices,” Ballard said of the win, “and Pitt did. Pitt has made a huge sacrifice for the team this year by continuing to fight and overcome injuries.”
