The revolving QB door surrounding Colts' Michael Pittman Jr.
The reality Michael Pittman Jr. has had to face with the Colts QB situation
Since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL draft, Michael Pittman Jr. has had a new starting QB each year of his NFL career. Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy even shared a stat highlighting the level of QBs Pittman has dealt with.
Norris' comments led me to want to examine each QB that Michael Pittman Jr. has caught a pass from in his NFL career and where they are today.
During PIttman Jr.'s career, he has caught a pass from 7 QBs. We will begin with his rookie year and move forward to this past season.
Phillip Rivers 2020
Pittman Jr. began his career with a potential future Hall of Famer in Phillip Rivers. He arguably has been the best QB Pittman Jr. has worked to date. Rivers would start all 16 games for the Colts in 2020 and took the team to the playoffs, where they'd fall to the Buffalo Bills in the Wildcard Round. He would throw for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Unfortunately, Pittman Jr. would end up missing this season due to an injury that would cause him to only appear in 13 games. During that time, he would record 40 receptions, 503 yards and one touchdown.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Rivers as his QB
- Week 1 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
2 receptions, 10 yards - Week 2 Vs Minnesota Vikings
4 receptions, 37 yards - Week 3 Vs New York Jets
1 reception, 9 yards - Week 4 @ Chicago Bears
Out with Injury - Week 5 @ Cleveland Browns
Out with Injury - Week 6 Vs Cincinnati Bengals
Out with Injury - Week 8 @ Detroit Lions
1 reception, 6 yards - Week 9 Vs Baltimore Ravens
4 receptions, 56 yards - Week 10 @ Tennesee Titans
7 receptions, 101 yards - Week 11 Vs Green Bay Packers
3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 touchdown - Week 12 Vs Tennesee Titans
2 receptions, 28 yards - Week 13 @ Houston Texans
5 receptions, 46 yards - Week 14 @ Las Vegas Raiders
2 receptions, 42 yards - Week 15 Vs Houston Texans
2 receptions, 19 yards - Week 16 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
3 receptions, 38 yards - Week 17 Vs Jacksonville Jaguars
2 receptions, 28 yards
Playoffs: - Wildcard Round @ Buffalo Bills
5 receptions, 90 yards
After the 2020 season, Rivers would announce his retirement from the NFL, making his stint with the Colts only one season.
Jacoby Brissett 2020
Jacoby Brissett was the backup for Pittman Jr.'s entire rookie season. He also has the most prominent role in the NFL today of any QB Pittman Jr. has caught a pass from in his career. Pittman Jr. would catch both of Brissett's completions during the 2020 season.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Brissett as his QB
- Week 3 Vs New York Jets
- 2 receptions, 17 yards
After this season, Brissett would move on from the Colt signing with the Miami Dolphins to be the backup to Tua Tagovailoa. He would go on to start five games for the Dolphins in 2021. Before once again signing elsewhere in 2022 with the Cleveland Browns. This time he was signed with the intention of being the team's starter while Browns QB Deshaun Watson served out a suspension. Brissett started 11 games for the Browns, going 4-7 during that time span.
Heading into this season, Brissett has again signed with a new team, this time with the Washington Commanders, where he is the projected QB 2 on their depth chart behind 2nd year QB Sam Howell.
Carson Wentz 2021
Enteting Pittman Jr.'s sophomore season, the Colts elected to trade for their next signal caller from the Philadelphia Eagles in, Carson Wentz. Wentz would start all 17 games for the Colts during the 2021 season. Putting up the 2nd best season of any QB Pittman Jr. has had by throwing for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Pittman Jr. would have his best statistical season, with Wentz putting up a season with 88 receptions, 1,082 yards, and six touchdowns.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Wentz as his QB
- Week 1 Vs Seattle Seahawks
3 receptions, 29 yards - Week 2 Vs Los Angeles Rams
7 receptions, 113 yards - Week 3 @ Tennessee Titans
6 receptions, 68 yards - Week 4 @ Miami Dolphins
6 receptions, 59 yards - Week 5 @ Baltimore Ravens
6 receptions, 89 yards, 1 touchdown - Week 6 Vs Houston Texans
1 reception, 3 yards - Week 7 @ San Francisco 49ers
4 receptions, 105 yards, 1 touchdown - Week 8 Vs Tennessee Titans
10 receptions, 86 yards, 2 touchdowns - Week 9 Vs New York Jets
5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 touchdown - Week 10 Vs Jacksonville Jaguars
5 receptions, 71 yards - Week 11 @ Buffalo Bills
2 receptions, 23 yards - Week 12 Vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 receptions, 53 yards - Week 13 @ Houston Texans
6 receptions, 77 yards - Week 15 Vs New England Patriots
1 reception, 7 yards (Ejected) - Week 16 @ Arizona Cardinals
8 receptions, 82 yards - Week 17 Vs Las Vegas Raiders
6 receptions, 47 yards - Week 18 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
6 receptions, 64 yards, 1 touchdown
Like Rivers, Wentz's stay in Indianapolis would only be for one season. Unlike Rivers, though, Wentz wouldn't leave on his terms. They would trade Wentz to the Washington Commanders following the season, ending his time with the Colts. Wentz would start seven games for the Commanders, going 2-5 during that span. An injury would end up sidelining the quarterback. After he got healthy, the team chose to keep him sidelined to focus on the next season and keep him from hitting the threshold that would increase the compensation going back to the Colts as a part of their trade.
After the season ended, the Commanders released Wentz for cap savings. The quarterback is currently not on an NFL roster for the 2023 season.
Jacob Eason 2021
Jacob Eason was drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL draft. Pittman Jr. and Eason would only overlap during live game action for one game during his time in Indianapolis during the 2021 season. Eason's total stats for the Colts were two completions on five attempts for 25 yards and one interception.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Eason as his QB
- Week 2 Vs Los Angeles Rams
1 reception, 10 yards
Eason would be waived by the Colts mid-season and the Seattle Seahawks would pick him up. In 2022 he signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he would appear in 1 game. He is not rostered in the NFL and is a free agent.
Matt Ryan 2022
Prior to the 2022 season, the Colts would trade for Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan would appear in 12 games with the Colts and be benched twice because of his poor performance. Ryan would end the year putting up 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and the 2nd most fumbles in the NFL with 15.
The 2022 season was far and away the worst QB situation Michael Pittman Jr. has had to date in his career. He would have 3 different starters throughout the season. Pittman Jr., though, would have a career-high in receptions with 99 as well as putting up 925 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Ryan as his QB
- Week 1 @ Houston Texans
9 receptions, 121 yards, and 1 touchdown - Week 2 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Out with Injury - Week 3 Vs Kansas City Chiefs
8 receptions, 72 yards - Week 4 Vs Tennessee Titans
3 receptions, 31 yards - Week 5 @ Denver Broncos
5 receptions, 59 yards - Week 6 Vs Jacksonville Jaguars
13 receptions, 134 yards - Week 7 @ Tennessee Titans
6 receptions, 58 yards - Week 8 Vs Washington Commanders
7 receptions, 53 yards - Week 10 @ Las Vegas Raiders
7 receptions, 53 yards - Week 11 Vs Philadelphia Eagles
6 receptions, 75 yards - Week 12 Vs Pittsburgh Steelers
7 receptions, 61 yards, 1 touchdown - Week 13 @ Dallas Cowboys
2 receptions, 16 yards - Week 15 @ Minnesota Vikings
10 receptions, 60 yards
Once again, the Colts' planned starter would only last one season as the team would release Matt Ryan during the offseason. Ryan has yet to announce his retirement but will be away from the NFL this season as he accepted a job with CBS, where he will be in the booth as a television analyst.
Sam Ehlinger 2022
The Colts drafted Sam Ehlinger in the 7th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His leadership skills and overall practice ability have impressed many in the Colts' building. Ehlinger got the start twice during the Colts' hectic 2022 season and played the majority of a 3rd game. He would put up 573 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions during that span.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Ehlinger as his QB
- Week 9 @ New England Patriots
3 receptions, 22 yards - Week 17 @ New York Giants
6 receptions, 41 yards - Week 18 Vs Houston Texans Ehlinger
3 receptions, 30 yards
Ehlinger is the only QB that has completed a pass to Michael Pittman Jr., that is still on the Colts today. He is also one of two currently rostered by an NFL team. Ehlinger holds the 2nd highest job of any QB that has completed a pass to Pittman Jr., as he is projected to be the Colts' QB 3 this season.
Nick Foles 2022
Nick Foles was signed during the offseason to be Matt Ryan's backup. He would end up starting two games for the Colts. He threw for 224 yards, 0 touchdowns, and four interceptions during that span. And he could only complete a pass to Michael Pittman Jr. in one game.
Pittman Jr.'s stats with Foles as his QB
- Week 16 Vs Los Angeles Chargers
4 receptions, 39 yards
The Colts would end up releasing Foles during this past offseason. The quarterback is not currently rostered on an NFL roster. He has publicly spoken about his plans post-retirement but has yet to announce his retirement from the NFL.
Yet again, Michael Pittman Jr. is preparing for a new QB; this time, though, an end seems in sight after the team drafted Anthony Richardson with the 4th pick of 2023 NFL Draft.
With it being a contract year for Pittman Jr., he will hope the team can find stability at the QB position to allow him to reach his full potential and earn an extension with the Colts.
1st impressions of Anthony Richardson from his offensive teammates
A combination of quotes throughout the offseason from Colts defensive players
Source: Jonathan Taylor asking price is a non-starter for the Colts and the NFL
Insight on Colts RB Jonathan Taylor’s asking price
Featured Image By: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
