Michael Pittman Jr. is no longer with the Indianapolis Colts, but he doesn't hold a grudge.
The Colts traded the seventh-year wide receiver and a seventh-round draft pick in March to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick. Indianapolis used that pick on former Center Grove High School defensive lineman Caden Curry.
Pittman joined the "Pat McAfee Show" from Steelers training camp, and he has praise for Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, whose 2025 season ended with an Achilles injury.
"D.J. is a beast," Pittman said. "He is one of the toughest guys. Works super hard. I can't say enough good things about him."
He said he has fond memories with the Colts, but those won't hold on Oct. 11, when the Steelers host Indianapolis.

#colts #pittman #pick

The wide receiver position for the Indianapolis Colts had its question marks entering training camp, and now five practices in, those unknowns still very much linger.
Following Michael Pittman's departure this offseason, the WR3 role alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs is up for grabs, but really how the rest of the depth chart from spots three through six will shake out still has to be determined.
"Quarterback Daniel Jones is checking all the boxes coming off his Achilles tendon injury in 2025, but the same perhaps cannot be said for his wide receivers," said ESPN's Stephen Holder. "He's got Alec Pierce still out of the lineup after offseason ankle surgery, and behind him is Josh Downs, who is off to a hot start but the remaining group, there are very much still a lot of questions. And who's going to step up as that No. 3 receiver? Will the Colts continue to evaluate the free agent market? And so a lot of uncertainty at wide receiver."
Not helping matters is that Pierce is still sidelined at the moment, which takes away this unit's big playmaking threat while also shedding light on the lack of depth.
The play of the Colts' cornerbacks, Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, and their ability to each shut down their side of the field is adding to the challenge as well.

#colts

We all make mistakes. Sometimes they happen in life, at our jobs or even when playing fantasy football (believe it or not). It's important not to dwell on these mistakes and, instead, learn from them. Our Yahoo fantasy football ****** ysts are sharing one thing they did in 2025 that they aren't going to carry into 2026 for fantasy.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Over the years I've become especially value-driven with my salary cap drafts. I'm trying to leverage the market, I'm trying to find under-appreciated players. There's nothing wrong with that strategy, but often I come out with rosters that are more about leftovers than they are about players I actually like. This year I'm going to try to remember that it's okay to "overpay" occasionally for a player I really believe in, or a player I especially need at the time. Plus, heck, you're supposed to ****** emble a team you're going to enjoy following for several months. Don't forget to have some fun with it, too. — Scott Pianowski
It's probably a bit of a stretch to call Daniel Jones Shane Steichen's handpicked guy but at the same time, it was pretty clear that the Colts were putting their thumb on the scale to make him the heavy favorite in last year's camp competition. Regardless, I allowed my own bias about how Jones had played over the last couple of seasons to essentially prevent a ceiling outcome from even crossing my mind. I ended up losing out on chances at significant value for multiple Colts players—many of whom I had been a long-time defender of like Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr.—late in fantasy drafts. Generally, if a sharp play-caller like Steichen taps a reclamation project passer who has shown positive signs in their career, we should be open to the possibility they bring some ADP beats up along with them. This season, I'm keeping my mind open to Kyler Murray reviving the Vikings offense, should he indeed prove to be Kevin O'Connell's Week 1 starter. — Matt Harmon
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the perfect example — working behind or next to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for his opening two seasons. Very few memorable plays stood out. His role was more restricting than we hoped. It was easy to think we already knew what he was as an NFL player. Nico Collins was another perfect example back in 2023. But before the Year 2 breakout there was the Year 3 breakout. Before we believed the best fantasy ****** ets performed at their peak player immediately, we actually had some patience — especially in new situations. Whether that be a seismic coaching staff change in the form of a new play-caller, a new starting quarterback they are attached to or a sociable shift in the pecking order — and sometimes even all of the above. So Rome Odunze, Marvin Harrison Jr., Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy and Jonathon Brooks… you are on my radar. — Josh Norris

#year #like

LATROBE – Day Three of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp was unlike any Steelers practice I've covered in terms of its layout. It was an incredibly light day for the Steelers that featured players in caps and bucket hats rather than helmets as the team ran a walkthrough for the entire two hour practice.
The plays were ran at 50-60 percent speed, and it was a very energetic, laid back environment. So, with that as a prerequisite, there frankly wasn't much to take away from Day Three, but Joey Bray and I will both share the few takeaways we had from Friday morning's practice.
Germie Bernard took the field with the First-Team during practice, working largely from the slot while DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman were on the outside. Roman Wilson took some reps on the outside with the second team. This was by design, as head coach Mike McCarthy said ahead of practice that he would be looking to give Wilson some outside reps as to not pigeon hole him at one spot. – Jarrett Bailey
Throughout practice, Aaron Rodgers was under center a lot. This is something that Rodgers had stressed in his pre-training camp presser on Tuesday. He wants to be under center more this season and it looks like McCarthy is going to grant his wish and give him those opportunities this season. – Joey Bray
Mike McCarthy spent the majority of practice with the third and fourth teams coaching up Will Howard and Drew Allar. Howard is the guy McCarthy has arguably talked up the most this offseason, while Allar is the hand picked developmental quarterback. It's refreshing to see a head coach so involved with the development of his young quarterbacks. If anything, it shows that McCarthy is looking toward the future and wants to get every opportunity he can at these young guys. It would be much better for the Steelers long term if one of the guys on the roster ends up being their future franchise guy, and McCarthy knows that. Howard has much more to prove over the next few weeks of camp and preseason compared to Allar, but getting that increased one-on-one time with their new head coach is crucial. – Joey Bray

#steelers

I never thought it would be so simple, but, I found a way. I found a way.
When Indianapolis Colts principal owner Carly Irsay-Gordon stood before the team early in training camp, her message wasn't complicated. Find a way.
The phrase couldn't escape her mind as she was speaking to the team. Find a way to make the roster. Find a way to make the play when it matters most. Find a way to fly through the turbulence, through adversity. Ultimately, the goal is to find a way back to the playoffs.
Three practices into training camp at Grand Park, that mantra continues to echo across thre practice field as players try to climb their way up the depth chart. For some veterans, finding a way means stepping into a larger role. For young players and rookies, it means simply proving they belong. Friday's practice featured prime examples of both.
Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is looking to carve out a significant role after signing with Indianapolis in March. With the Colts trading away Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, the veteran receiver has been presented with an opportunity to earn the third starting spot. On Friday, Westbrook-Ikhine spent extensive time working with both the first- and second-team offense and rewarded all three quarterbacks who looked in his direction.

#indianapolis #westbrook

Day 1 of training camp is officially in the history books for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with players deserving praise — and criticism — for their respective performances.
From a standout cornerback to one quarterback who saw his stock take a hit, here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from Day 1 of Steelers training camp.
Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey may have been forced to sit back due to injury, but Samuel made the most of his opportunity. He looked amazing during Day 1 of training camp, making several huge pass breakups intended for two of Pittsburgh's top receivers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
From tipped passes to interceptions, Patrick Queen, Cole Holcomb, and Payton Wilson made huge plays throughout camp. It's a welcome change after the down year the Steelers' linebackers experienced in 2025.
Wilson emerged as one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets during Day 1 of training camp, pulling in passes early and often from the veteran quarterback. It's exciting that Wilson is getting a lot of opportunities to prove why he deserves the WR3 role, and from what we've seen so far, he's stepping up in a big way.

#steelers #wilson

Arkansas football enters 2026 looking almost nothing like the team that stumbled through a disastrous 2025 season that saw them go 2-10 overall and 0-for-the-SEC. After Sam Pittman was fired in late September and Bobby Petrino finished out the year as interim coach, the Razorbacks turned to Memphis' Ryan Silverfield to lead yet another full scale rebuild of the program. With a new staff, a roster overhauled through the transfer portal, but one of the toughest schedules in the country waiting, expectations in Northwest Arkansas are cautious but hopeful.
Silverfield arrives after six seasons at Memphis, where he went a solid 50-25 and built a reputation for explosive offenses. Memphis has always been a place at which it was tough to succeed. Despite a ton of local talent, the university's commitment level (or lack thereof) and competition on the recruiting trail from SEC schools frequently combined to keep the Tigers from reaching their potential.
Silverfield won more than ten games twice, but 2025 saw the Tigers drop to 8-4, and Silverfield leave prior to them taking a 31-7 beating from NC State in the Gasparilla Bowl. In short, he was not the most highly sought after coach on the carousel, and probably had a hit of a sell by date in Memphis. But Arkansas isn't exactly a plum ****** ignment in the SEC. So in some ways it felt like program and coach found each other at the right time.
Silverfield wasted little time ****** embling his first Arkansas staff. Tim Cramsey, his offensive coordinator at Memphis for four seasons, follows him to Fayetteville after helping the Tigers average 36 points per game and rank among the top 25 offenses nationally. On defense, Silverfield hired Ron Roberts, who spent the last two years running Florida's defense and previously called plays at Auburn, Baylor and Louisiana, including on Baylor's Sugar Bowl winning 2022 staff. Chad Lunsford, a former Georgia Southern head coach, takes over special teams duties after a strong 2025 at Auburn. The staff also brought in several ****** istants from Memphis and around the country, including veteran offensive line coaches Jeff Myers and Marcus Johnson, signaling a clear intent to rebuild a line that struggled last season.
Those new coaches are going to need name tags to keep up with all their new players. Few programs churned their roster harder than Arkansas this offseason. With dozens of scholarship spots to fill, the Razorbacks needed a portal class that ranked among the largest in the country, and they landed roughly 29 commitments that placed them near the top of the SEC and top 15 nationally in industry transfer rankings.

#memphis #coach #country #auburn

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will report to Saint Vincent College for training camp. It will be the 59th year the Steelers have held camp at Latrobe, missing only during COVID. We already gave you the rundown of five storylines to watch and now we offer up four more storylines we have to keep an eye on.
Despite the addition of veteran Michael Pittman Jr., the Steelers still need to see a significant ***** p in production from the team's slot receiver. This will come down to rookie Germie Bernard and veteran Roman Wilson. We want to see the two of them duke it out in practice reps and in the preseason and see if the rookie can hold off the veteran with something to prove.
We had hoped the Steelers and Porter would have already agreed to terms on a contract extension but unless they announce something on Monday, we expect Porter Jr. to "hold in" at training camp until the two sides agree, even if it means the Steelers have to restructure some contracts to get it done.
We know that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has said he plans to move Jalen Ramsey back to a slot cornerback, hybrid linebacker in his defense but we want to see if the lack of depth at safety shows itself and forces him back to safety again in 2026.
There's no doubt offensive tackle Broderick Jones will start training camp on the PUP list and we wonder if he will be available at all, but there is speculation that defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day will also be on the PUP when training camp kicks off, which shuffles the defensive line rotation.

#veteran #porter #storylines #slot

According to ESPN's Ben Solak, the Indianapolis Colts won't realistically regain their 2025 first half form, citing starting quarterback Daniel Jones' uncertain health and the loss of a number of key veterans as the realistic reasons for the continued regression:
2026 outlook: Repeat of early '25 success seems unlikely
It's tough to expect anything close to a repeat performance from Jones in 2026, even before we consider the effect of the Achilles injury.
It's also worth noting that the Colts endured another offensive line departure (Braden Smith) and saw a key offensive weapon (Michael Pittman Jr.) leave the building to boot. Veteran defenders Nick Scott and Zaire Franklin both departed this offseason, leaving Day 2 rookies A.J. Haulcy and CJ Allen in line to fill their big shoes.
The sheer number of departures, along with uncertain health for Jones, makes them a tough horse to back in 2026. — Ben Solak

#jones #colts #uncertain #line

The Indianapolis Colts were well on their way last season, but a Week 14 injury to Daniel Jones all but derailed any hope that they had of making a run. Looking back, the Colts have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL over the last three years under head coach Shane Steichen. After getting nine wins, then eight wins, and eight again, year four is going to be crucial for everyone on the Colts staff.
Obviously, Daniel Jones comes up when unanswered questions from Colts training camp arrive. Is the team's long-term/final answer to go with him? He was rewarded with a two-year contract worth upwards of $100 million with incentives, so it sure seems that way. Although, like our last article in this series, he will be one of the quarterbacks in the AFC South division under the microscope alongside Texans' C.J. Stroud.
Rookie tight end Tyler Warren had an excellent season. His workload will more than likely increase because the Colts sent WR1 Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will also provide a security blanket for Daniel Jones until he is completely healthy. Warren's 76 catches last year were second on the team, and that number may reach triple digits in 2026.
The Colts need a clear WR2, or someone to separate themselves from the pack this season on the outside. Last year's WR2, Alec Pierce, will move up the depth chart and will need to live up to the four-year, $114 million contract. He is considered a serious deep threat, and the Colts decided he was worth keeping over Pittman. Last season, he caught 33 fewer passes than Pittman, so we shall see.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 3 unanswered questions before camp: Indianapolis Colts edition

#last #season

The Steelers head into the 2026 season with higher hopes for their receiving corps.
DK Metcalf caught 59 passes last season, but the rest of the group only had 77 and the 136 total receptions ranked 31st among receiving groups for the 2025 campaign. The Steelers addressed that shortcoming by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting two wideouts — second-rounder Germie Bernard and fourth-rounder Kaden Wetjen — in April.
New head coach Mike McCarthy isn't counting out another returning member of the group, however. 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson played just one game as a rookie and had 12 catches in 13 appearances last season, but McCarthy said that he liked how Wilson approached the offseason.
"He's been here from Day 1," McCarthy said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. "He was one of the first men to reach out and clearly ask what the expectation was of him, how I view him, how I saw him fitting in as the roles X, F and Z. He's doing the work. He's had a great offseason. I just need him to keep showing up and keep working his tail off because he's got a skill set, there's a lot there to work with. Roman's done a really nice job."
Metcalf and Pittman are going to be the top wideouts to kick off the season in Pittsburgh, but Wilson could find his way into a bigger role if his offseason work continues into training camp and leads to a strong bond with Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers' bonding week with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates has gone viral over the past several days. And one particularly interesting storyline was the absence of two key Steelers players.
While Rodgers brought along six teammates, Michael Pittman Jr., DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth, Ben Skowronek, and Mason Rudolph, Steelers quarterback Will Howard and tight end Darnell Washington were nowhere to be seen. And considering how hard it is to miss the 6-foot-7 Washington, there's been a real debate about what these absences could mean.
For Howard, this could mean that the backup quarterback job isn't as one-sided as previously believed. Rudolph appeared to throw his name back into the hat with his inclusion at Rodgers' bonding week.
Washington's absence was less concerning, as the giant, 300-plus-pound playmaker has carved out a role for himself as one of the NFL's best blocking tight ends that's dangerous after the catch.
These two Steelers will definitely be players to keep a close eye on as training camp arrives in a few weeks, as Howard and Washington look to battle with Rudolph and Freiermuth, respectively, for a bigger role on the team.

Aaron Rodgers is doing some team-building roughly two weeks before the Pittsburgh Steelers report for training camp.
Going into his 23rd NFL season, the four-time MVP wants to make sure his final season is a memorable one. And he gathered a handful of teammates from the Steelers offense for a trip to bond before the work of the 2026-27 campaign really begins.
Rodgers posted a photo of himself with receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilson and DK Metcalf, along with quarterback Mason Rudolph and tight end Pat Freiermuth from an undisclosed location.
Whereever the photo was taken from (Rodgers also posted another one that was sharper), perhaps somewhere out West, there is plenty of wide-open ***** e to work on some pass routes. But maybe they’re saving the football stuff for when they report to Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Accompanying the image, Rodgers wrote “Last Rodeo,” reminding everyone that this will be his last season and these are the guys who will help him through it. The caption also included the hashtag “#bondingweek,” indicating the purpose of this excursion.

An invitation to the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding was one kind of exclusive. Another recent NFL-related gathering took exclusive to another level.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has posted on Instagram a photos of a gathering with six of his Steelers teammates: Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilston, Mason Rudolph, DK Metcalf, and Pat Freiermuth.
The caption is "Last Rodeo," along with "#bondingweek."
The images include horses, cowboy hats, and campfires. The setting wide open and outdoors, with strong to quite strong Teton River vibes.
Rodgers has said this will be his final season. The "Last Rodeo" label further confirm it, setting up the 2026 season to be the rare full-season farewell tour for a franchise quarterback.

The Steelers have not had great wide receiver cores over the last few seasons, but in 2026 they finally have some depth in the pass-catching room.
The Steelers have a good problem on their hands: a battle for the No. 3 wide receiver spot. Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard are seemingly the third and fourth receivers behind DK Metcalf and newly acquired Michael Pittman Jr. Both are young receivers with tons of upside after being drafted from prominent schools.
Will one of them stand out over the other as the Steelers’ third option?
Bernard, a rookie from Alabama, caught 114 passes for 1,656 yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons. The Steelers drafted the 6-foot-1 receiver in the second round of this year’s draft, 47th overall. Bernard has high expectations from fans and ******* ysts, who many believe could be the next great Steeler receiver.
Wilson’s story is somewhat odd compared to the average high-draft-pick receiver. He played four seasons at Michigan, hauling in 107 receptions and 1,707 yards during his time there, as well as 20 receiving touchdowns. The Steelers drafted him in 2024 after he won a national ******* le with the Wolverines, but he battled injuries his rookie year and only appeared in one game.

Steelers Rookie WR Germie Bernard Turning Heads Ahead of Training Camp originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With training camp weeks away, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard is earning plenty of attention early on.
Bernard, the Alabama standout who was drafted by Pittsburgh with the No. 47 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has quickly translated his collegiate big-play ability to the pro level, drawing rave reviews during offseason workouts for his sharp route-running and immediate chemistry with the starting offense.
Heading into training camp, Bernard projects to compete for the WR3 role — behind DK Metcalf and offseason acquisition Michael Pittman Jr. — with third-year receiver Roman Wilson. While Wilson might enter training camp with the starting role, some insiders are saying Bernard is a real threat to become the starter come the 2026 season.
Ahead of training camp in late July, the rookie Bernard is gaining attention in the Steelers offense. The former Crimson Tide wide receiver has been praised for his ability to line up all over the field, and, moreover, his route-running ability.

ESPN has offered its take on the Pittsburgh Steelers' WR3 battle, specifically between third-year hopeful Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard.
In ESPN's new ranking of the 2026 NFL rosters, in which the Steelers were completely disrespected, Bernard was projected to get the starting nod over Wilson as the third wide receiver, joining WR1 DK Metcalf and WR2 Michael Pittman.
Bernard, selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, has incredible versatility, capable of lining up out wide, in the slot and even out of the backfield as a rookie. And honestly, that does give him a leg up on Wilson.
For the most part, the Steelers have been successful at drafting receivers in later rounds. But you wouldn't have guessed it based on Wilson's usage over the past two seasons. There was hope he was primed for a Year 3 breakout, but if Pittsburgh's offense plays out like ESPN projects, Wilson may not be given a chance.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

The Pittsburgh Steelers largely kept their core intact this offseason and are looking to defend their AFC North crown this season with some key additions.
ESPN **** ysts Mike Clay, Seth Walder, and Aaron Schatz ranked all 32 starting lineups across the National Football League. They considered factors like age, talent, and production. The trio of writers ranked Pittsburgh’s starting lineup 19th-best in the league.
The Steelers were ranked one spot below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and one spot above the Indianapolis Colts. Two of their AFC North foes were looked upon more fondly by the trio of sportswriters, as the Baltimore Ravens came in ranked as the fifth-best starting lineup, while the Cincinnati Bengals were a few spots ahead of the Steelers at 15th. The Cleveland Browns, who are loaded with a bevy of draft picks after trading Myles Garrett, came in ranked 31st.
Pittsburgh made major additions this offseason, such as Jamel Dean, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jaquan Brisker. The team also made ten draft selections, giving them a lot of young talent to develop. The ranking of the Steelers seems a bit harsh to me, but I suppose the aging defense and having a soon-to-be 43-year-old quarterback likely held the Steelers back from being higher on the list.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

For a second straight offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted to rebuild their wide receiver depth chart. The passing offense underwhelmed in 2025 despite the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodger and wide receiver DK Metcalf. So now, with Mike McCarthy at head coach, more help was added to add some spark to the passing game. With training camp less than a month away, let's take a closer look at the Steelers top receivers.
Metcalf was given a No. 1 wide receiver contract last season but he didn't play like one. In fact, throughout his career, Metcalf has been a borderline No. 1 with only two 1,000-yard seasons in seven years. In fairness, Metcalf was held back by Mike Tomlin's offense and the lack of production around him in 2025, so expectations are high.
The big offseason addition was the trade for Michael Pittman Jr. Like Metcalf, Pittman has never been a true No. 1 receiver and always had slightly less production than that of a true top receiver. Also, like Metcalf, Pittman Jr. only has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume in six years.
Wilson's first two years in the NFL have been a wash and 2026 might be the last shot for him to impress. He's got a clean slate with McCarthy and he's working hard this offseason, hoping to hold off the rookie Germie Bernard to be the team's starting slot receiver.
Bernard was the Steelers second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft and he brings a diverse skill set that includes playing running back and H-back in addition to multiple spots at wide receiver. Bernard had a strong minicamp and seems to have a stranglehold on the No. 3 receiver spot this year.

The Tennessee Sports Writers ******* ociation boys and girls all-state teams have been released for the 2026 TSSAA track and field season.
Pole Vault: Tyler Bailey, Happy Valley, Sr.; Jullian Pate, Happy Valley, Sr.; Elijah Spence, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.
Long Jump: Adrian Crawford, Union City, Sr.; Dayon Cooper, South Pittsburg, Jr.; Jackson Savarese, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.
Triple Jump: Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, Jr.; Kohl Ward, Tyner Academy, Jr.; Stephen Saulter, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.
High Jump: Adrian Crawford, Union City, Sr.; Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, Jr.; Kamron Mitchell, Bluff City, Sr.

The Tennessee Sports Writers ******* ociation boys and girls all-state teams have been released for the 2026 TSSAA track and field season.
Pole Vault: Tyler Bailey, Happy Valley, Sr.; Jullian Pate, Happy Valley, Sr.; Elijah Spence, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.
Long Jump: Adrian Crawford, Union City, Sr.; Dayon Cooper, South Pittsburg, Jr.; Jackson Savarese, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.
Triple Jump: Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, Jr.; Kohl Ward, Tyner Academy, Jr.; Stephen Saulter, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.
High Jump: Adrian Crawford, Union City, Sr.; Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, Jr.; Kamron Mitchell, Bluff City, Sr.

Training camp for the Indianapolis Colts kicks off in about a month, so as part of our preview of what's to come, we will be evaluating each positional battle that is expected to unfold.
What took place during offseason programs laid the foundation for each of these competitions and provided us with some insights into where things may stand. That said, how training camp and the preseason unfold will ultimately determine who wins these roles.
Next up is the wide receiver position.
With Michael Pittman in Pittsburgh, a starting spot alongside of Alec Pierce and Josh Downs is up for grabs. In the mix for that playing time are Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
The consensus seems to be that Dulin is the front-runner for this role.

With training camp for the Indianapolis Colts now on the horizon, who are the newcomers to this year's roster?
While GM Chris Ballard prioritized re-signing Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, this was an offseason full of change for the Colts, particularly on defense.
In total, Ballard would make nine outside free agent signings during the initial waves, while also acquiring Colby Wooden in a trade.
Several of the Colts' own free agents signed elsewhere, while Zaire Franklin and Michael Pittman were traded away and Kenny Moore was released.
Below is a position-by-position look at each of the offseason additions made to this roster.

This offseason has marked a stark contrast to years past, because there are a number of starting positions up for grabs regarding the Indianapolis Colts–whereas typically, there’s usually only been one or two under general manager Chris Ballard, who’s admittedly wanted more open competition throughout his entire roster.
The Colts didn’t make a ton of external noise this offseason, as their biggest moves were re-signing both starting quarterback Daniel Jones and lead wide receiver Alec Pierce to lucrative multi-year deals, as well as trading a pair of longtime veteran pillars to other NFL teams: Michael Pittman Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Zaire Franklin (Green Bay Packers).
However, there was one under-the-radar veteran pickup at wide receiver, which it’s worth highlighting here, the Colts starting outside WR2 position opposite Pierce is currently up for grabs.
The 29-year-old former Indiana University standout was signed to a modest 1-year, $1.402M deal, as he looks to rebound from a quiet sole season with the Miami Dolphins in 2025.
Specifically, Westbrook-Ikhine caught just 11 receptions for 89 total receiving starts during 15 games (3 starts) this past season for the Dolphins before being released in mid-February of this year.

The Steelers did not spend the offseason adding weapons just for the sake of adding names to the roster.
Every move appears to point toward one goal: making life easier for DK Metcalf.
Metcalf enters 2026 as Pittsburgh’s top receiving threat and among the NFL’s most physically gifted wide receivers. Last season, opposing defenses primarily focused extra attention on him, knowing the Steelers lacked enough proven options to consistently make them pay elsewhere.
That could change this season.
The addition of Michael Pittman Jr. gives Pittsburgh another receiver capable of commanding defensive attention. Pittman has built a reputation as a reliable possession receiver who can make contested catches and consistently help move the chains.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t land near the bottom of Sports Illustrated’s ranking of the NFL’s top offensive triplets for 2026, but the review wasn’t glowing either.
Pittsburgh checked in at No. 21 on Matt Verderame’s list, slotted between the New York Jets at No. 20 and the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 22. That puts the Steelers in a familiar spot: talented enough to be taken seriously, but still carrying one obvious question that keeps dragging down the national view of their offense.
That question is Aaron Rodgers. And it’s valid.
“The Steelers are talented across the board,” Verderame wrote. “Unfortunately, they have a 42-year-old quarterback who refuses to throw downfield, limiting the team’s ceiling beyond a postseason appearance. Rodgers hasn’t thrown for 4,000 yards or 7.0 yards per attempt since 2021. While Warren is a quality back and the combo of Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. is excellent, Rodgers holds the whole unit back.”
That’s the part Steelers fans probably won’t love, but it’s not hard to understand. Jaylen Warren gives Pittsburgh a reliable back who can create in both the run and passing games. DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. give Rodgers two big, physical targets who can (finally) change how defenses play this offense.

Drew Sidora is reportedly no longer required to leave her Georgia home after a judge reversed a previous court order requiring her to leave the property
The latest update is part of Sidora's ongoing divorce with Ralph Pittman, which was first filed in March 2023
"I'm grateful for the court's decision and appreciative that my children and family can continue to have stability during this process," a rep for Sidora tells PEOPLE on Friday, June 5
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora can remain in her Georgia mansion she shares with ex Ralph Pittman after a judge reversed a previous order for her to vacate the property.
Sidora, 41, was no longer bound to a May 31 deadline to leave her marital home, according to court documents previously obtained by TMZ.