Carson Wentz won’t just be wearing a new uniform this year – he’ll also be donning a new number.
Because Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts receiver who just completed his first year in the NFL, isn’t giving up his No. 11 to his new quarterback, whom the Colts traded for on Thursday and who wore the number the last five years for the Eagles.
“I spoke to (Wentz), and he was just seeing how locked in I was to 11, and I told him that I was locked in,” Pittman Jr. told TMZ. “And he was like, ‘That’s cool bro, because I’m probably gonna switch anyway.’ So it went really well, and he’s just a cool guy. He didn’t try to press me or anything like that. He asked me very respectfully and I just appreciate him for that.
“Lots of guys with his status, they’d come in and demand and stuff like that. So I think he’s a really great dude and I get to keep 11, so that’s a win for me.”
Pittman Jr., 23, added there’s no deal he would take to switch numbers.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t feel right taking money from somebody over a football number,” he said. “So I’m pretty sure that I’m set in it.”
After being selected in the second round (No. 34 overall) by the Colts in last year’s draft, Pittman Jr. had 40 catches for 503 yards and a touchdown in 13 games as a rookie playing with the since-retired Philip Rivers. He’ll look to build off that with the 28-year-old Wentz, who is coming off the worst season of his career – 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was benched for rookie Jalen Hurts in Week 13.
