As the Indianapolis Colts head into a crucial Week 17 showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders, the team got injury updates on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and offensive tackle Braden Smith, who both seem like they are trending toward playing on Sunday.
“This is not a declarative statement about their statuses for Sunday, but WR Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) and RT Braden Smith (knee) were very active in today’s practice,” ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder shared on Thursday. “Smith looked like a guy ready to play IMO.”
These Colts injury updates are huge for the team, as Pittman is the team’s leading pass-catcher with 99 grabs for 1,062 yards on the season, and Smith is a key piece of the offense, starting all eight games he’s been healthy for this season.
The Colts need to win in Week 17 against the Raiders to keep pace or even surpass their AFC South competition, as Indianapolis, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Houston Texans all have matching 8-7 records heading into the final two games of the regular season.
Colts playoff scenarios
The Colts, Texans, and Jaguars may have the same records now, but the season won’t finish that way. That’s because Indianapolis and Houston go head-to-head in Week 18.
If the Colts win out, they have an excellent chance of making the postseason. However, it’s not guaranteed. There is a scenario where the AFC South squad wins in Weeks 17 and 18, and the Cincinnati Bengals still get in on tiebreakers.
A lot still has to play out before the Colts’ playoff fate is decided, but it all starts with Week 17, and having Michael Pittman Jr. and Braden Smith would be a huge help.
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