INDIANAPOLIS – An offense mired in a month-long funk will be without one of its cornerstone players. Michael Pittman Jr., who’s been dealing with a lingering back injury, has been ruled out of the Indianapolis Colts’ Sunday meeting with the Buffalo Bills at Lucas Oil Stadium. That seemed inevitable after Pittman missed all three practices this week. In previous weeks, he generally practiced one day and was given ample time to focus on his rehab. “He’s been battling like crazy,’’ Steichen said Friday. “We’re taking this thing week-to-week. “Like I said before, one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around.’’ Pittman also suffered a dislocated finger in Sunday night’s loss at Minnesota, but the back is the reason he’ll miss his first game of the season. Since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft, Pittman has missed just five games because of injury. Sunday will be No. 6. Steichen said placing Pittman on injured reserve isn’t being considered at this time and hopes a week of non-activity will help rectify the situation. He wasn’t able to comment whether the back injury has worsened. “I’m not a doctor,’’ he said. “He’s battling through it.’’ The back injury first surfaced after the week 5 road test at Jacksonville. A source confirmed the team expected Pittman to miss a game or two and placing him on IR was discussed. Pittman met with the media Wednesday and conceded the past several weeks have been frustrating. He has 30 receptions, 366 yards and two touchdowns, the worst nine-game stretch to open a season in his career. For the first time in his career, Pittman has had consecutive games with just one reception. “It’s definitely frustrating because I feel I need to do better and I’m trying to find ways to do that whether it’s extra film work, rehab,’’ Pittman said Wednesday. “I’m not going to make excuses. If I’m out there, I’m out there.’’ Now, he won’t be out there. That will ramp up the pressure on the rest of the receivers’ room: Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Ashton Dulin and rookie AD Mitchell. “I mean, pressure is a privilege, right?’’ Steichen said. “Those guys go out and do their jobs. They’ve been doing it all year, doing a helluva job for us. “They prepare the right way. So, looking forward to all of those guys’ opportunities.’’ Downs has been the most active receiver during Pittman’s recent decline. Over the past four games, the 2023 third-round draft pick has been targeted 30 times and produced 18 receptions for 238 yards. All are team highs during that stretch. Despite missing the first two games of the season while recovering from a high ankle sprain sustained during training camp, Downs leads the team with 38 receptions for 411 yards and three TDs. Pierce has been the offense’s big-play option, averaging a league-best 22.9 yards on 19 catches. Along with 65- and 60-yard TDs, he has receptions that have covered 57, 45, 44 and 24 yards. Also, Dulin’s playing time should increase. The special teams standout has just two catches, including a 54-yard TD, and has picked up another 38 yards on four rushes. But if the Colts are to fully compensate for Pittman’s absence, Mitchell must be more involved. He was taken 52nd overall in the April draft and has endured a quiet rookie season with 12 catches and 140 yards on 32 targets. Mitchell was on the field for 62 plays in the opening two games against Houston and Green Bay – just two catches for 32 yards on nine targets – but his playing time and opportunities have been scattered. In the past four games, he has been limited to 47 total snaps, 13 targets, six catches and 70 yards. His only reception in last Sunday’s loss at Minnesota was a highlight reel-worthy 22-yarder that saw him tap both feet in bounds as he stretched for the football. “I’m looking forward to every opportunity,’’ Mitchell said. “With every day comes a new opportunity, so with every day I just plan on taking advantage of it.’’ He’s eager to embrace a larger role. “Of course,’’ he said. “I think that’s why I’m here.’’ The offense needs a jolt, regardless how that’s done. Since a 34-point, 447-yard outing in a week 5 loss at Jacksonville, the offense has scored just five TDs on 43 possessions, excluding end-of-half kneel-downs. It’s averaging only 270.8 yards per game and is coming off a season-worst game against the Vikings. The Colts failed to score an offensive TD for the first time since Steichen’s arrival last season and were limited to season lows in yards (227), first downs (13), rushing yards (68) and red-zone trips (0). Raimann ready Left tackle Bernhard Raimann has been cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol and will start Sunday against Buffalo. You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.