Alec Pierce won't be participating in the Indianapolis Colts when it begins in 2026. He is still attempting to recover from ankle surgery he had in March. Initially, the timeline for his return was 4-6 months, and he is seemingly trending toward coming back at the end of that timeframe.
The wide receiver was placed on the training camp physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The key, of course, is to have him ready for Week 1, and at this point, that should still be the worst-case scenario. The good thing about camp PUP is that a player can be on it one day and off the next. He isn't required to miss a certain amount of time.
In other words, Pierce could be on the list this week and come off it next week and practice right away. That may not happen, but it could. The team isn't going to put a firm date on his return.
Indianapolis Colts place Alec Pierce on training camp PUP
But he does need to return for the regular season, of course. Indianapolis re-signed Pierce this past offseason to a four-year deal worth as much as $116 million. Indy also traded veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr., which means Pierce is the clear WR1 and Josh Downs is WR2, but the depth behind them is iffy.
Thankfully, the team also has tight end Tyler Warren, and he will potentially get as many targets as either Pierce or Downs, and probably both. Had the team lost Pittman and not had Warren, the situation would be much more dire. The Colts are fine, and, most likely, Alec Pierce will be too.
Plus, missing a bit of time isn't a terrible thing. He can rest and rehab a bit longer, and other receivers will get more reps with first-team quarterback Daniel Jones. The Indianapolis Colts have to find their WR3, and without Pierce, Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks, and other receivers have a better opportunity to show they deserve reps.
The flipside is that Pierce will miss some time he needs to develop his route tree a bit more. In his previous four seasons, he ran a lot of posts and deep crossing patterns, but moving forward, he will have to run every potential route and do so crisply. He has to be precise in what he does.
Not just because he is getting paid so much money, but because he needs to be the alpha of his position group. He's never had more than 47 catches in a season. In 2026, that needs to come close to doubling. Pierce just needs to make sure he is completely healthy to help his team as much as he needs.
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