'Grace of God that I was able to get up and walk': Michael Pittman on Damontae Kazee hit

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is out of the concussion protocol following the hit from Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee that left Pittman on the ground for several minutes Saturday. He needed just six days to clear the concussion protocol after suffering a brain injury.

But the moments after the hit were dicey.

"It's by the pure grace of God that I was able to get up and walk," Pittman said. "That was a scary hit. Going through my head at the point was nothing. I wasn't thinking nothing. I didn't know where I was at."

When Pittman got to the locker room, he saw his wife, Kianna, and daughter, Mila, arrive in tears.

"That's the first time when I was like, 'Maybe this was bad,'" Pittman said.

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But he didn't feel symptoms, and by Wednesday, he was ready to suit up for a non-contact practice, but the team held a walkthrough. He moved through the week smoothly and had a full practice Friday before an independent neurologist cleared him.

The league came down hard on Kazee by suspending him for the remaining three games of the regular season. Kazee had five fines prior to Saturday's hit, and the league noted his extensive history of infractions in a letter explaining the punishment.

"I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don't think he meant to impose life-changing injury," Pittman said. "I don't think any player has that in them. You never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money. I don't think he was trying to do that. He has a family, too. I know that's a hefty fine. He's going to miss out on a lot of money that he was counting on. So you never want to see that."

With 99 catches for 1,062 yards, Pittman is leading the Colts in receiving for a third straight season, putting him in line to sign a major contract extension this spring. Hits like Saturday's can pose a risk to a player's ability to cash in.

He's technically questionable for Sunday's game with a shoulder injury that he suffered on the play. But he practiced the full week, and coach Shane Steichen said he expects to have him back.

"He’s OK from that hit and we’re happy to have him back," Steichen said.

The game will be a game on Christmas Eve, and his wife, daughter and newborn son will get to watch him suit up again.

"I'm just blessed to be able to walk away from that," Pittman said.

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com.Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.