The Indianapolis Colts top three wide receivers were all on the injury report this past week and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
However, on very early Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport reported that Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman are all “expected” to play.
#Colts WRs Josh Downs (toe), Alec Pierce (shoulder), and WR Michael Pittman Jr. (back) are all listed as questionable and all expected to play, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2024
With how effective Pierce has been on downfield passes, his presence alone can impact how defenses defend the Colts offense. Defenses have to be mindful of his downfield abilities, which can help spread things out and create more spacing underneath and in the run game.
Downs has been a go-to target for the passing game these last three weeks, leading the team in both targets and receptions during that stretch. Of Downs’ 25 receptions in those games, 15 have gone for a first down.
For what has been a very boom-or-bust offense, Downs provides needed stability to the short and intermediate passing games, helping the Colts sustain drives.
Pittman, meanwhile, is as reliable as they come–as we saw last week against Tennessee. In the red zone and in picking up a pivotal first down late in the Titans’ game, Pittman came through in some key moments.
Joining this trio of pass catchers will be Anthony Richardson, who will be making his first start since Week 4, when he exited that game in the first half with an oblique injury.
The Colts’ passing game will be facing a Miami pass defense that has done well to limit opposing offenses this season. The Dolphins will enter Week 7 allowing just 6.2 yards per pass attempt, which ranks 11th, while quarterbacks have a collective passer rating of only 80.2–the sixth-lowest in football–when throwing against this secondary.
And while the Colts offense has been one of the best at generating explosive passing plays, Miami has been one of the best at limiting those opportunities, surrendering just 10 plays of 20-plus yards through five games.
Given the matchup, the opportunity for the Colts offense may lie in getting the run game going.