The Colts are set to be without wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for the near future, so their offense would be in much better shape if they could get running back Jonathan Taylor back in the lineup.
Taylor missed last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars with an ankle injury and he didn’t practice on Wednesday, but he said on Thursday that he feels like he is trending in the right direction on the health front.
“I’m feeling way better, which is a positive sign,” Taylor said, via Kent Sterling of 98.7 WGCL. “Anytime you can progress throughout the week, you’re closer to getting back on the field.”
While Taylor is feeling better, it’s far from a sure thing that he’ll play against the Titans this weekend. He said he was unsure if he’ll practice on Thursday and a decision on his game status will remain up in the air until he can show the team that his presence on the field will do more good than harm.
The Colts are set to be without their top wideout for the indefinite future.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the back injury that kept Michael Pittman Jr. out of practice on Wednesday is expected to keep him out of multiple games. Schefter adds that injured reserve is believed to be an option for Pittman.
If Pittman does go on the list, he will miss at least four games. For the time being, it appears he’ll definitely be out for this Sunday’s game against the Titans.
Pittman has 22 catches for 238 yards and a touchdown so far this season.
Josh Downs also missed practice on Wednesday, which leaves Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell, Ashton Dulin, and Anthony Gould as the healthy wideouts on the active roster right now.
Titans quarterback Will Levis will not need any surgery on his right shoulder after the season. The injury is not as bad as initially feared, with Levis dealing with an AC sprain.
Levis was injured in the Sept. 30 game against the Dolphins.
“Yeah, it sucks anytime you get an injury, but especially when it’s to a body part that’s so crucial to your career, your life and what you do. It’s scary,” Levis said, via video from Paul Kuharsky of paulkuharsky.com. “I’m glad that I came off the field with the diagnosis that wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and I’m working through it to make sure I can get back to where I was.”
Coach Brian Callahan said Levis will retain his starting job when healthy enough to play, and Levis is hoping that is this week. The Titans play the Colts on Sunday.
“I’m a competitor,” Levis said, via video from Buck Reising of AtoZ Sports. “I’m going to push myself to play whatever state that I’m in. It’s going to be hard to keep myself out, but I’ve got to be smart and see how I feel and not put myself or my team in jeopardy, but I’m fighting like hell to get out there.”
The Titans signed Trevor Siemian to their practice squad as an emergency third option with Levis and Mason Rudolph the only quarterbacks on the roster. But Levis was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Safety Jamal Adams (hip), wide receiver Treylon Burks (personal) and defensive lineman Keondre Coburn (knee) did not practice.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (rest), defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (rest) were limited.
The Colts had quarterback Anthony Richardson on the practice field Wednesday, but other key offensive players were not taking part in the session.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) both sat out the practice session. Taylor did not play in last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, but Pittman has not missed any games this season.
The Colts were also without wide receiver Josh Downs (toe), running back Trey Sermon (collarbone), and right tackle Braden Smith (knee, ankle), so there are plenty of injury issues to monitor as the week plays out.
Richardson also sat out last Sunday, but said his oblique is feeling “much better” on Wednesday and hopes to play against the Titans on Sunday.
Cornerback Kenny Moore (hip, shoulder) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quad) joined Richardson as limited participants. Center Ryan Kelly (neck) was a full participant.
The Titans hope to have Will Levis at quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Colts, but they added some veteran depth in the event they have to start Mason Rudolph.
The team announced that they have signed Trevor Siemian to the practice squad on Wednesday. They also signed tackle Leroy Watson to the active roster from the practice squad.
Siemian started three games for the Jets last season and he had a previous stint on the Titans practice squad during the 2020 season. Siemian has also started games for the Bears, Saints, and Bengals over the course of his career.
Levis left Week Four with a shoulder injury and head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday that Levis will likely start if he practices without issues this week.
