Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concussion after he was leveled by safety Damontae Kazee, who was ejected on the play.
With 8:42 remaining in the second quarter of Indianapolis’ come-from-behind 30-13 win, Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew dropped back at the Colts’ 31-yard line on second and 8 and attempted a deep pass to Pittman. Kazee ran up and hit Pitman hard on the incomplete pass, prompting several referees to throw penalty flags.
Kazee was penalized for unnecessary roughness and ejected.
After the game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t seem to think the crew at Lucas Oil Stadium tossed Kazee, suggesting the ejection ‘came from New York’ — a reference to the league’s officiating department, which remotely monitors every game.
Pittman remained down and was tended to by team medical personnel before he was able to walk off the field under his own power.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Pittman was evaluated and later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion. His night ended with four receptions for a team-high 79 yards on five targets.
Kazee had five total tackles before his ejection, including a key third down stop in the first quarter. He was previously ejected in 2018 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cam Newton while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Steelers found themselves even more short-handed on defense when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was hurt soon after Kazee’s ejection. He was ruled out with a knee injury.