INDIANAPOLIS – Activity stopped and silence took over.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., one of the Indianapolis Colts’ cornerstone players, remained on the ground Wednesday afternoon after elevating for an Anthony Richardson pass and colliding with several defensive backs along the right sideline.
The medical staff rushed to the scene and appeared to give special attention to his left knee. General manager Chris Ballard was among the small group surrounding Pittman. Coach Shane Steichen trotted over to check on the team’s leading receiver.
After a few anxious moments, Pittman stood up and walked toward the indoor practice facility. There was a slight limp. Soon thereafter, he was escorted inside by trainers.
A second Organized Team Activity (OTA) practice session resumed, but the uncertainty of Pittman’s status loomed large. Along with being the team’s leading receiver the past three seasons, he signed a three-year, $70 million contract in March.
“He just bumped knees out there on a play,’’ Steichen said following practice. “I don’t have a full update, but he should be fine.’’
A source with knowledge of the situation later confirmed Steichen’s encouraging prognosis.
OTA practices are the first time 11-on-11 work is allowed during the offseason. Contact is not permitted, but occasionally unavoidable.
It appears Pittman avoided any significant injury.
Richardson on Flacco
Richardson, the birthday guy, met the media Wednesday, but only after peeling off his No. 5 Colts jersey and pulling on Tyrese Haliburton’s No. 0 Indiana Pacer jersey.
He’s a big fan, and still was hurting from the Pacers’ overtime loss Tuesday in Boston in game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
At one point, Richardson was asked his reaction to the Colts signing veteran Joe Flacco to be his backup.
Richardson turned 22 on Wednesday. Flacco is 39 and entering his 17th NFL season. He was the 18th overall pick in the 2008 draft and led the Baltimore Ravens to a win over San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season.
“Man, it’s crazy because Joe was in the NFL when I was in elementary school,’’ Richardson said with a laugh. “Every time I see him, it’s like, ‘That’s Joe Flacco right there.’ I ask him questions all the time and he’s just laid back.
“We’re in meeting rooms and he keeps telling me certain things: ‘I would do this. I would do this. But that’s just me.’ I just take it and add it to my bag. It’s amazing just to have a vet like that. It’s Joe Flacco.
“ . . . he played with Ray Lewis and all those guys (in Baltimore). I just remember riding on the school bus and they were winning the Super Bowl.’’
Joint work during training camp
Steichen confirmed the Colts will hold a pair of joint workouts during training camp.
There will be two sessions against the Arizona Cardinals at Grand Park Sports Campus prior to the Aug. 17 preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Also, the Colts will hold one joint workout with the Bengals prior to the Aug. 22 preseason game in Cincinnati.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.