Wide receiver Alec Pierce was injured in the first half of the Indianapolis Colts - Denver Broncos game, and while it was initially unclear if he would return for the second half, the star receiver has officially been ruled OUT.
Pierce is one of the Colts' best receivers, and he has good chemistry with quarterback Anthony Richardson in particular. He is especially known for being a deep threat, and likely has a promising future ahead of him.
Towards the end of the first half, Richardson lobbed a bomb to Pierce in the end zone, but the pass was broken up by Kris Abrams-Draine. Pierce was seen going down hard, and remained on the ground for a few moments before being able to get up on his own. However, he was immediately taken into the locker room, and is being evaluated for a possible concussion.
Pierce was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Colts, and has steadily improved each season. He has especially become a deadly threat this season, particularly on deep passes. His loss will be a major blow to the Colts' offense, who need a victory today to keep their playoff hopes alive.
It's expected that rookie Adonai Mitchell will take his place if Pierce is unable to return. Mitchell was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Colts, and though he began the season as a starter, he was eased off the starting squad due to inconsistency in favor of Josh Downs, who returned from an injury suffered during training camp.
With Pierce now being in concussion protocol, it is not clear how long he will be out. However, his loss will be huge for the Colts, considering how well he and Richardson work together -- not to mention that the Colts will need to win every single one of their remaining games if they want to make the playoffs.
Alec Pierce injured in first half of Colts-Broncos game
He has officially been ruled out.
