Alec Pierce is on the verge of getting back onto the practice field, and that’s the next important step for the Colts receiver after a quiet summer on the sideline.
Head coach Shane Steichen said Indianapolis expects Pierce to return to practice this week, if everything goes according to plan, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder. Pierce has been working his way back from minor ankle/heel clean-up surgery he had in late March, and he spent all of training camp and the preseason on PUP while he recovered.
The original recovery window after the surgery was four to six months, so the timing lines up with where the Colts hoped he’d be by now. Even so, he won’t be taking part in the Colts’ preseason home finale this weekend. He still has to build up his conditioning and see how the ankle and heel respond once he’s back in football work.
That said, a return to practice keeps the door open for the Colts’ regular season home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 13th. That was the expectation from the start.
Pierce’s presence matters because Indianapolis still doesn’t have a clear-cut WR1, even after bringing in veteran Keenan Allen late in training camp. Pierce gives the offense something different: a true vertical threat who can separate down the field, attack the football at its highest point, and come down with difficult contested catches. He’s the kind of receiver who can turn a 50-50 ball into a winning play.
The Colts don’t have another wideout like him, and honestly, most teams don’t. He’s also expected to play a bigger overall role in the passing game this season, after steadily expanding his route tree since entering the league in 2022.
What remains unknown is how quickly he’ll get all the way back to his usual physical level without having gone through training camp, veteran minicamp, or OTAs earlier this offseason.
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Colts Still Have One Big Readiness Question Before Week 1
The Colts are heading into their final preseason game with most of the roster picture getting clearer, and the injury report finally offering some encouraging signs. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has been moving in the right direction after missing training camp because of ankle surgery, while cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. is back on the field after dealing with a back injury. For a team trying to settle in before the real games begin, those are the kinds of updates that matter.
Still, the last stretch before Week 1 is not without questions. Tyler Warren and Anthony Gould remain sidelined or limited with groin injuries, leaving Indianapolis to keep monitoring how quickly key pieces can get back to full speed. The Colts do not need every issue solved in late August, but they do need enough healthy bodies to enter the season with a workable plan. [Read more 🡒]