Colts' Taylor to return vs. Falcons, Pittman cleared
The Indianapolis Colts are expected to have running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on the field for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced.
Taylor, who missed the last three games with a thumb injury, has no injury designation.
Pittman cleared concussion protocol for Sunday's game, head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Friday, according to Mike Chappell of Fox 59. He's listed as questionable, though that's due to a shoulder injury. He was a limited participant on Friday.
Steichen also said earlier Friday that Taylor "looks good" but didn't reveal his official injury status at the time.
Pittman sustained a concussion after taking a scary hit last week from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, who was suspended for the rest of the regular season for the play.
Pittman added that he didn't think it was a clean hit, but doesn't believe Kazee was trying to injure him.
"I think it was not a clean hit, but I don't necessarily want them to suspend him and him lose out on everything," the Colts' receiver said, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.
He added: "I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don't think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury. I don't think any player has that in them. And you never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money."
Pittman noted that he doesn't remember the collision and didn't realize the violent nature of it until his wife and daughter came in the locker room crying.
Meanwhile, running back Zack Moss will be questionable after exiting the win over Pittsburgh with a foreman injury. If Moss can't play, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson - who combined for 157 rushing yards in Week 15 - would back up Taylor.
The 8-6 Colts are in the thick of the AFC playoff race with three games remaining.