Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Xavier Legette

Friday, January 10, 12:10 PM

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will not require surgery for the fractured back that he played through late in the 2024 season. "One tough dude. Example of what you want," Ballard said. It's a testament to Pittman's toughness that he missed just one game due to his back injury. But the 27-year-old's back issues and inconsistent play from the quarterback position in Indianapolis in 2024 led to Pittman posting only 808 receiving yards -- his fewest since his rookie season in 2020 -- to go with 69 receptions (also his lowest mark since 2020) and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Better health will give him a chance to rebound in 2025, but his overall upside might be dependent on quarterback Anthony Richardson's health and his ability to improve as a passer.

Tuesday, February 25, 10:25 PM

The Charlotte Observer's Xavier Legette (foot) avoided wrist surgery but did have foot surgery this offseason, according to general manager Dan Morgan. Legette played through a foot injury in his first year in the NFL in 2024, which likely played a part in his disappointing showing. After the Panthers selected him 32nd overall out of South Carolina, the 24-year-old struggled to get on the same page with second-year quarterback and caught only 49 of his 84 targets for 497 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). Legette may be forced to miss organized team activities this spring, but he should be fully recovered from his foot surgery in time for the start of training camp this summer. He'll be looking to make a jump in Year 2 in Carolina, but the likely return of veteran Adam Thielen (he was contemplating retirement) could make things more difficult for the former first-rounder.