#indianapolis-colts

#indianapolis-colts

They have had the NFL's top-producing offense for weeks. They'd also enjoyed the largest point differential in the league, having been on the right side of several blowouts. But on Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Colts left Acrisure Stadium trying to explain a six-turnover performance in their ugliest game of the season. The lessons from this 27-20 loss to the Steelers will be harder to swallow. But they can also be useful if put to use in the right way.

The Indianapolis Colts have placed their top cornerback Charvarius Ward on injured reserve, sidelining him for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers and at least the next three contests. Ward sustained his second concussion of the season after a violent collision with tight end Drew Ogletree during pregame warmups for the Colts' Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Ward was down for a sustained period before regaining his faculties and being helped off the field.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts have ruled out wide receiver Josh Downs and cornerback Charvarius Ward for Sunday's road game against the Los Angeles Chargers because of their respective concussions. Downs sustained a concussion in last weekend's win over the Arizona Cardinals, first experiencing symptoms Monday. Ward sustained his second concussion of the season during pregame warmups Sunday when he collided with tight end Drew Ogletree.

It has become a strangely familiar sight: A player streaking toward the end zone, well beyond the reach of defenders, a touchdown looking like a certainty. And then ... Just before crossing the goal line, the ball carrier suffers a massive lapse in judgment and drops the ball, then sometimes tries to recover it as it bounces out of the back of the end zone. After a review, the apparent touchdown is overturned and changed to a touchback, giving the opposing team possession.

The news from the doctors was jarring: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.'s back was effectively broken. In the best-case scenario, a stint on injured reserve seemed inevitable. At worst, his entire season was in jeopardy. But Pittman's reaction to that 2024 injury was not what one might expect. After learning from physicians that he could play through the low-back fracture if he could tolerate the acute pain, Pittman decided to give it a go.

This, in part, is what drove the Colts to select Tuimoloau in the second round of the NFL draft (45th pick) last month, providing them with a player they believe won't shrink at the biggest moments.