Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts did not realize the brutality of a hit he sustained from Pittsburgh Steelers defender Damontae Kazee until he saw footage of the play.
Pittman, the Colts’ leading receiver, cleared the concussion protocol on Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Falcons. Meanwhile, Kazee has been suspended for the rest of the regular season for the illegal hit and “repeated violations” of player safety guidelines, according to the NFL.
Pittman told reporters on Friday that he didn’t recall much about the accident, but that the reactions of his loved ones indicated it was serious. Kazee fired his shoulder at a diving Pittman attempting to make a catch, striking the receiver in the head.
“I really didn’t grasp how significant it was until I watched it,” said Pittman. “I remember sitting in my locker and my wife came in crying, my daughter was crying and that’s like the first time I was like, ‘Maybe this was bad.'”
Pittman believes Kazee’s sentence was too severe. If the Steelers (7-7) make the playoffs, Kazee will be able to return to the field.
“I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don’t think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury,” Pittman went on to say. “I don’t think that any player has that in them and you just never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money because I don’t think he was trying to do that.”
Pittman’s toughness was commended by Colts coach Shane Steichen for his fast release from the concussion protocol.
“I’ve talked about how tough he is,” Steichen explained. “Obviously, he’s OK from the hit and I’m ready to have him back.”
Pittman has 99 catches for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns for the Colts, who are tied for first place in the AFC South with Jacksonville and Houston. He is ready to move on from the tragedy.
“It’s unfortunate how it happened and I wish it never happened like for me and for” Kazee, that’s what he stated.
