The Colts moved quickly to shore up their receiver room after Alec Pierce’s latest setback, agreeing to sign veteran wideout Darius Slayton, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The timing matters. Pierce is expected to miss several weeks while he rehabs the heel injury he aggravated, and a midseason return is still considered possible. Indianapolis didn’t wait around for the situation to sort itself out.
Slayton brings something the Colts need right away: an experienced outside receiver who can step into real snaps without much ramp-up time. He spent the last seven seasons with the New York Giants, and he also already knows Daniel Jones well after playing with him from 2019 through 2024. That familiarity should make the transition a lot smoother than it usually is when a player joins this late in the year.
He is not a straight swap for Pierce, though. Pierce has emerged as one of the league’s better vertical threats and is coming off a 1,000-yard season.
Slayton profiles more as a complementary outside target than a centerpiece. But the Colts weren’t looking for a perfect replica - they needed someone who could get on the field now and handle legitimate offensive work, and Slayton fits that bill far better than elevating a player from the bottom of the depth chart.
His speed should also help Indianapolis keep some of its downfield element intact while Pierce is sidelined. With Josh Downs and Keenan Allen handling much of the underneath and intermediate passing game, Slayton can slide into the vertical role that otherwise would have been missing.
The Colts still have to navigate Pierce’s absence, especially if it stretches into the middle of the season. But Slayton gives them an experienced answer, and one with built-in chemistry with their quarterback.
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Taylor Swift Reacts To The Colts Call Fans Still Hate
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Colts Decision On Adonai Mitchell Suddenly Looks A Lot Worse
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Colts Fans Had Every Reason To Be Furious After That OT Reversal
Late in a wild overtime loss in Kansas City, the Colts briefly thought they had forced the kind of turnover that ends a road trip with a win and a lot of noise back home. Instead, replay stepped in and turned Laquon Treadwells apparent game-ending fumble into a completed catch and a down-by-contact ruling, leaving Indianapolis to absorb a 33-30 defeat in a game that had already swung enough times to test everybodys nerves.
Patrick Mahomes hardly needed extra help to carry the Chiefs, but he still got the final break when the call was reversed, and he said he was relieved it went that way with social media waiting to pounce. He closed with 382 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and Kansas City walked away 2-0 while the Colts were left with another frustrating reminder of how thin the margin can be in prime moments. [Read more 🡒]