Colts lose key weapon for Titans matchup but others can present problems

The Titans secondary is already a strength of their team, but not having to face a talented WR1 always makes the assignment easier. Pittman leads the Colts in target share, receptions, and is 2nd on the team in yards so far this season.

Without Pittman, rookie 2nd round draft pick Adonai Mitchell will be expected to step up on the outside. Meanwhile, the proven receiving threats remaining for the Titans to plan for are a pair of young emerging talents: Josh Downs and Alec Pierce.

Pierce actually leads the Colts in total receiving yards this season, despite having only 13 receptions. His downfield "X play" production has been a revelation for Indy, as he's averaging a staggering 28.3 yards per catch for 368 total yards. Whether it's Richardson or Flacco under center, they try to find him for a game-changing play or two every single week.

Josh Downs has really emerged from the slot the past two weeks with Flacco filling-in for an injured Anthony Richardson. After missing the first two weeks of the season due to an injury of his own, Downs' role has expanded each week with 5, 9, and then 12 targets Weeks 3-5.

It's beginning to look more and more like Richardson will be back in the lineup for the Colts for Week 6, as the reports from practice have all been positive so far.

But regardless of who is under center, Downs should play a big role in this Pittman-less gameplan as long as he's healthy. Downs was listed on the Wednesday injury report with a toe, so we'll have to continue to monitor his own health situation into the weekend.

The Titans will be the beneficiaries of key absences on both sides of the ball this week, as the Colts are already missing their best defender: DeForest Buckner. The ironman veteran had only ever missed two games in his 9-year career, one to injury and one to COVID. Then an ankle injury in Week 2 got him placed on IR for the first time, and now he's eligible to return in Week 7 at the earliest.

This is really a must-win divisional game for both teams. For the Colts, they desperately need to avoid dropping to 0-3 in the AFC South if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. And for the Titans, getting to 2-3 with your first divisional win of the year would be just what the doctor ordered before having to face the Bills and Lions in consecutive weeks. And with the Colts missing two huge pieces, it sure feels like the Titans don't have many excuses.