The Colts don’t have much room for error after dropping their Week 1 game to the Baltimore Ravens, so every healthy body matters - especially Alec Pierce.
That’s why Thursday’s practice report got some attention when Pierce was absent with a “heel” issue, the same area the team says was involved in the injury that required surgery in March. On the surface, it looked like a possible setback three days before Indianapolis hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
But the more likely read is simpler: rest.
Pierce was a full participant on Wednesday, and the expectation is that the Colts were just managing his workload. According to the Indy Star’s Joel A.
Erickson, Pierce said the plan was likely to use him fully on Sunday. Unless something changes sharply, that points to a player being eased along rather than one headed for a real game-day problem.
Friday’s injury report will bring the official labels, and that’s the one to watch. If Pierce ends up listed as questionable or out, the picture changes. For now, though, the sense is that he should be available.
Head coach Shane Steichen will also speak Friday, and while he usually keeps the details close to the vest, any update he gives could matter.
There was movement elsewhere on the Colts’ injury front, too. Quarterback Anthony Richardson missed Wednesday’s practice with a groin injury but returned as a full participant on Thursday. He is expected to be Daniel Jones’ immediate backup against Kansas City in Week 2, with the hope that Richardson doesn’t have to see the field unless Indianapolis is ahead 70-0 or something like that.
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Colts Now Face A Keenan Allen Problem The NFL Could Escalate
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Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said the club is handling the matter internally, while any league discipline will be left to the NFL. That split is where the uncertainty begins for the Colts, because even when a team chooses to stay quiet publicly, the leagues process can quickly force the issue back into view and keep it there. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans Already Have A CJ Allen Question Ballard Didn't Expect
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Cam Bynum ended up with that responsibility in the opener, while Akeem Davis-Gaither is expected to take over in Week 2. For a second-round pick drafted to be part of the solution, Allens early role looks a lot different than many around the team anticipated, and the more playing time going to linebackers like Bryce Boettcher and Jaylon Carlies only adds to the question of how quickly Indianapolis sees Allen fitting into the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Have 3 Big Problems Chiefs Could Expose Right Away
The Colts got a harsh reminder in their latest outing that the margin for error in the NFL can vanish quickly. Baltimore piled up more than 500 total yards against Indianapolis, carving up the defense through the air and on the ground while exposing problems at every level of coverage. The linebackers and cornerbacks were hit especially hard, and the kind of breakdowns that showed up in that game are the sort of issues a sharp opponent will notice immediately.
Now comes a Kansas City matchup that can make those concerns feel even larger if Indianapolis does not clean things up fast. The offense did not do enough to offset the defensive leaks, with Tyler Warren drawing multiple targets but making only a limited impact, and the special teams unit added to the frustration with a missed extra point and a kickoff return touchdown allowed. Against the Chiefs, the Colts will need far cleaner execution in all three phases just to keep the game from getting away early. [Read more 🡒]