Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars edged the Colts on a field goal 37-34. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Colts’ Joe Flacco to start vs. Titans

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco will receive his second straight start in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn.

Flacco is getting the nod against the Titans with Anthony Richardson serving as the emergency quarterback behind Sam Ehlinger. Richardson practiced all week but still is working his way past an oblique injury he sustained in the Colts’ 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29.

Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns in Indianapolis’ 37-34 setback to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday.

The Colts (2-3) did not rule out Michael Pittman Jr. despite multiple reports noting that the wide receiver would miss several weeks with a back injury.

Pittman, 27, has led Indianapolis in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. He has a club-best 22 catches for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season after signing a three-year, $70 million extension in March.

In addition to star running back Jonathan Taylor, the Colts listed the following players as inactive: defensive end Genard Avery, wide receiver Anthony Gould and center Danny Pinter.

The Titans (1-3) listed the following players as inactive: linebackers Caleb Murphy and James Williams, tight ends David Martin-Robinson and Thomas Odukoya, defensive lineman Keondre Coburn and offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks on the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

Florida’s Billy Napier odds-on favorite to be first coach fired

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell called his team’s 0-2 start to the season a “failure,” but his job remains safe after leading the Seminoles to the ACC title and the brink of the College Football Playoff last year.

The same can’t be said for in-state rival Billy Napier, whose Florida Gators opened with a 41-17 loss at home to No. 19 Miami. It was the Gators’ first loss to the Hurricanes at The Swamp since 2002 and snapped Florida’s 34-game winning streak in home openers.

More important, it dropped Napier’s record to 11-15 since taking over the program as the Gators attempt to rebound from failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2017.

Napier was installed as the 4/1 favorite by one sportsbook to be the first coach fired over the summer. After Saturday’s loss, he is now the odds-on favorite at 2/3.

The Hurricanes’ 41 points set a record for the most allowed by the Gators in a home opener, and Florida never led in the contest. After this weekend’s home game against Samford, the Gators play host to Texas A&M on Sept. 14 before kicking off their road slate with games at Mississippi State and Tennessee sandwiching a game against Central Florida.

SportsBetting.ag is offering odds on 19 coaches to be the first fired this season.

FIRST NCAA FOOTBALL COACH FIRED*
COACH, SCHOOL, JULY ODDS, CURRENT ODDS
Billy Napier, Florida, 4/1, 2/3 (-150)
Sam Pittman, Arkansas 5/1, 2/1
Dave Aranda, Baylor 7/1, 7/1
Shane Beamer, South Carolina, 16/1, 12/1
Justin Wilcox, California, 12/1, 12/1
Kalani Sitake, BYU, 10/1, 14/1
Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati, 14/1, 14/1
Dabo Swinney, Clemson, 25/1, 16/1
Neal Brown, West Virginia, 14/1, 16/1
Tony Elliott, Virginia, 16/1, 16/1
Mario Cristobal, Miami 6/1, 20/1
Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, 12/1, 20/1
Ryan Day, Ohio State, 12/1, 20/1
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt, 8/1, 25/1
Brent Venables, Oklahoma, 33/1, 33/1
Brian Kelly, LSU, N/A, 33/1
Mike Locksley, Maryland, 16/1, 33/1
Deion Sanders, Colorado, 50/1, 40/1
Lincoln Riley, USC, 25/1, 40/1
*Odds by SportsBetting.ag provided for entertainment purposes only.

LSU’s Brian Kelly entered the list at 33/1 following the Tigers’ loss to Southern Cal in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

SEC rival Sam Pittman from Arkansas follows Napier on the list. His odds have shifted from 5/1 in July despite the Razorbacks kicking off their season with a 70-0 drubbing of Arkansas Pine-Bluff last week.

Also moving up the list is Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. Once considered a potential replacement for Nick Saban at Alabama’s, Swinney’s status with the Tigers took a hit with Saturday’s 34-3 loss to top-ranked Georgia.

Miami’s convincing opening win at Florida helped coach Mario Cristobal move from 6/1 to 20/1 by the sportsbook. Cristobal is now 13-13 in his fourth season with the Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, Baylor’s Dave Aranda has held steady at +700. The Bears open their Big 12 schedule at Utah on Saturday after cruising past Tarleton State 45-3 in Week 1.

The other significant movement following the first full week of the season was Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, who shifted from 8/1 in July to 25/1 entering Week 2 after the Commodores’ overtime upset win over Virginia Tech. That sent Hokies coach Shane Beaner’s odds from 16/1 to 12/1, giving him the fourth-shortest odds to be the first coach fired this season.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) runs out of bounds as Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Brandon Facyson (31) rolls at his feet Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Reports: Colts reach 3-year deal with WR Michael Pittman Jr.

The Indianapolis Colts and star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. are in agreement on a new three-year contract worth $71.5 million, the Schultz Report and NFL Network reported Monday.

The deal includes $46 million guaranteed, per the report. Pittman becomes the eighth-highest paid WR in the league in average annual value.

The Colts placed the franchise tag on Pittman last week but beat the deadline to reach a long-term deal by four months.

Pittman, 26, had a team-best 109 receptions, 1,152 yards and four TD catches in 2023. He has 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns — from six different quarterbacks — in four seasons with the Colts.

The Colts also reached a three-year, $31.26 million contract extension with linebacker Zaire Franklin on Monday.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) runs out of bounds as Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Brandon Facyson (31) rolls at his feet Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts tag WR Michael Pittman Jr.

The Indianapolis Colts placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday ahead of the NFL deadline.

Pittman Jr. will be paid $21.82 million for the 2024 season if he doesn’t sign a long-term contract extension before July 17.

Using the non-exclusive tag blocks Pittman’s exit to free agency but permits him to discuss a contract with other teams. If Pittman signs an offer sheet, the Colts are granted refusal rights and could match the deal to retain their leading receiver. Not matching the deal would net the Colts two first-round picks in return.

General manager Chris Ballard spelled out the need for the Colts to keep Pittman when discussing free agency last week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Pittman had a team-best 109 receptions, 1,152 yards and four TD catches in 2023. He has 336 receptions for 3,662 yards and 15 touchdowns in four seasons with the Colts.

–Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) works to push Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) out of bounds Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. clears protocol; RB Zack Moss out

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. cleared concussion protocol but running back Zack Moss has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Friday that the Colts (8-7) won’t have Moss (forearm) but that Pittman “should be ready to roll.”

Pittman, who also cleared protocol last week before having a relapse, and Moss were both injured in a Dec. 16 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both sat out last Sunday’s 29-10 defeat at Atlanta.

Pittman, 26, leads the Colts with 99 receptions and 1,062 receiving yards and has four touchdown catches in 14 games (13 starts) this season.

Moss, 26, leads Indianapolis with 764 rushing yards and shares the team lead with five rushing touchdowns. He also has 27 catches for 192 yards and two scores in 13 games (eight starts).

Jonathan Taylor returned to the backfield last week and rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Falcons. He has 457 rushing yards and five TDs in eight games (five starts), along with 16 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) gets set to take the field prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Colts WR Michael Pittman cleared, can’t remember hit

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. cleared concussion protocol on Friday but said he doesn’t remember the hit that put him there.

“I honestly never saw him coming,” Pittman said of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, who was ejected from the game and later suspended by the NFL for the rest of the season for the hit.

Kazee lowered his head and slammed into the head and neck area of Pittman as he stretched for a pass during the Colts’ 30-13 win on Saturday. Pittman’s head snapped backward violently and he was motionless on the turf for a few seconds.

“I was diving, I caught it and then all of a sudden, I woke up and there’s people looking down at me,” Pittman told reporters Friday. “I was like, ‘Oh, (expletive), what just happened?’”

Pittman, who has 99 catches for 1,062 yards this season, will be able to suit up Sunday when the Colts (8-6) visit the Atlanta Falcons (6-8).

Pittman, 26, said he had mixed feelings about Kazee and the unpaid suspension he received.

“I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don’t think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury,” Pittman said. “I don’t think any player has that in them. And you never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money. … He has a family, too, and I know that’s a hefty fine.”

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) scores a touchdown Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts’ Jonathan Taylor practices, Michael Pittman Jr. limited

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was projected as a full participant Wednesday, but not all of the injury news out of Indianapolis was positive.

The Colts held a walkthrough and the injury report is an approximation of health ahead of Week 16.

Taylor’s return appears to be right on cue considering backup running back Zack Moss (forearm) didn’t practice and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was limited. Moss exited Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh in the first half with an arm injury. Pittman also left Saturday’s game following a vicious helmet-first hit that led to the ejection of Steelers safety Damontae Kazee and a ban of the defensive back for the rest of the season by the league.

One addition to the report not previously known was kicker Matt Gay. He was listed as “DNP” with a right hip injury after missing three field goals and an extra point in the past two games.

Gay is the only kicker on the 53-man roster.

Taylor hasn’t been on the field with the Colts since he was injured during a Nov. 26 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and underwent surgery three days later.

Indianapolis (8-5) plays at Atlanta (6-8) on Sunday.

The Colts beat the Steelers last week, their fifth victory in six games, and are even with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the division race with three regular-season games remaining.

After missing the first four games of the season due to a contract standoff and an ankle injury, Taylor has amassed 414 rushing yards and four touchdowns in seven games (five starts). He also has 16 catches for 137 yards and one score.

Taylor has 5,194 yards from scrimmage and scored 41 touchdowns in 50 career games (46 starts). Taylor, 24, was the NFL rushing champion with 1,811 yards in his second season in the league.

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) collides with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

NFL suspends Steelers S Damontae Kazee for rest of season

The NFL suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee without pay for the remainder of the regular season and any potential postseason games for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” the league said in a statement Monday.

The suspension comes after Kazee was ejected from Saturday’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts after a hit on a defenseless wide receiver, Michael Pittman, who stayed down after the violent hit and was ultimately ruled out of the game with a concussion.

“With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Kazee. “The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head/neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game.”

The league also cited Kazee’s past history as a factor in the suspension.

“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties,” Runyan wrote.

Under league rules, Kazee can appeal the suspension, which would be heard by one of two hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA to hear such appeals.

Kazee is in his second season with the Steelers. In March, he signed a two-year deal that included a signing bonus of $1.75 million and salaries of $1.25 million in 2023 and $3 million in 2024.

Kazee, 30, was also suspended last September for three games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Kazee has 16 interceptions in 92 career games (62 starts) with the Atlanta Falcons (2017-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Steelers.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. (hip) has minor injury

Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is sidelined from offseason workouts due to a hip injury, coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Friday.

Steichen said the injury is minor. He said Pittman won’t return to the practice field until he is totally recovered.

Pittman, 25, had a career-best 99 receptions in 2022 in his third NFL season. He had 925 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2021, Pittman established career highs of 1,082 yards and six touchdowns. He caught 88 passes.

Overall, Pittman has 277 receptions for 2,510 yards and 11 touchdowns in 46 games (41 starts).

The Colts reportedly worked out receiver Breshad Perriman on Friday and plan to attempt to sign him. Perriman, 29, has played for four NFL teams and has 145 receptions for 2,343 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 games (25 starts).

Perriman, a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and had nine catches for 110 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (three starts).

Steichen said three draft choices are nursing injuries. Receiver Josh Downs (third round) is battling a knee injury, tight end Will Mallory (fifth round) has a foot ailment and cornerback Darius Rush (fifth round) is dealing with a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns kicker Chase McLaughlin (3) lines up for a field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Colts add K, to be without WR Michael Pittman on Sunday

Chase McLaughlin was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and will handle kicking duties for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Jacksonville.

The Colts waived Rodrigo Blankenship for booting two kickoffs out of bounds and missing the game-winning 42-yard field goal in overtime in Houston in Week 1.

McLaughlin competed all week in practice with undrafted rookie Lucas Havrisik, the two finalists in what general manager Chris Ballard said was a seven-kicker tryout.

McLaughlin, 26, spent last season as the Browns placekicker and has played for eight NFL teams in three previous seasons.

One player who won’t take the field for the Colts on Sunday is wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has been downgraded to out with a quadriceps injury.

–Field Level Media