Former Bearcats receiver Alec Pierce opened Colts training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works his way back from left ankle surgery he had in late March.
The Indianapolis wideout is coming off a huge season, one that put him firmly among the NFL’s most dangerous big-play threats. In 15 games, Pierce hauled in 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. His 21.3 yards per reception ranked second in the league, and he led the NFL in yards per reception in 2024-25.
Pierce’s production came during a Colts season that swung hard in both directions. Indianapolis jumped out to an 8-2 start under quarterback Daniel Jones before he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14. Phillip Rivers and Riley Leonard each started games after that, but the Colts closed with seven straight losses and narrowly missed the playoffs.
Even with that late collapse, Pierce’s work - along with what he showed with backup quarterbacks - was enough to convince the Colts to invest heavily. Indianapolis gave him a $114 million contract extension this offseason.
Head coach Shane Steichen said the team’s aim is to have Pierce ready for the Week 1 opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13 at Lucas Oil Stadium. At training camp, Steichen said the Colts still feel good about the recovery timeline even with Pierce on the PUP list.
There’s also a sense that the timeline may not be long. Reports indicate Pierce could need just one more week of rehab before he starts practicing next Wednesday, August 5.
For now, the Colts are clearly taking the cautious route with one of their top receivers. And with $114 million committed, that makes plenty of sense.
In Other News...
Bearcats Face An Early Lineup Test After Key Injury
The Bearcats head into their first competitive games of 2026 in the Bahamas with a little less certainty than they would have liked, and not just because opening weekend always brings its own questions. Cincinnati is set to face the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria, but the early look at the roster has already been altered by an injury in practice, forcing the staff to sort through lineup and role adjustments before the season truly gets going.
Tylen Rileys absence changes the feel of the offense and puts more pressure on the rest of the backcourt to settle in quickly, while the projected starting group also leaves a few defensive questions to be answered once the games begin. The Bearcats still have time to adjust before conference play matters, but these early trips often reveal more than a coach would prefer, and Cincinnati will learn fast how much it can lean on its new combinations. [Read more 🡒]
Tylen Riley's Injury Adds New Question For Cincinnati's Bahamas Trip
The Bearcats trip to the Bahamas has already been pushed back by travel issues, and now there is another wrinkle before the first exhibition game even tips off. Cincinnati will face Victoria on Aug. 4 and Calgary on Aug. 5, with both games set to stream on FloCollege Basketball, giving the staff a first real look at the roster against outside competition after a summer of anticipation.
Tylen Riley will not take part in those games because of a hand injury, leaving the point guard spot without one of the players Cincinnati hoped to evaluate on this trip. There is some optimism he could be available for the fall exhibitions in October, but for now the Bearcats will have to keep sorting through their backcourt plans without him while the rest of the group gets its first game action in a new setting. [Read more 🡒]