Of all the players on the Indianapolis Colts roster that seem to have nothing to worry about heading into training camp, wide receiver Alec Pierce would appear to be one of them. He had a breakout season in 2024, and has established himself as a true deep threat, with the longest average depth of target (22.3) in the league in 2024, as well as with the largest yards per catch at 17.6. And that's not all; as Stephen Holder pointed out at ESPN, he had "a league-high air yards per target mark of 16. One out of every 10 receptions in his career has produced a touchdown. And his seven catches of 40 yards or longer is second only to theCincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (8) since 2022."
So what would there possibly be to worry about concerning Alec Pierce remaining in Indianapolis?
Well, 2025 will be the final year in his rookie contract, and as of now, no extension seems forthcoming. By all indications, Pierce is an up-and-coming star with a bright future ahead of him, but that doesn't mean he has nothing to prove in training camp. If he wants to stay with the Colts, he'll need to prove he's more than a one-hit wonder, something he admitted himself in his interview with Holder.
"I can do more things and just kind of trying to show the coaches what I can do," he said, adding that he "can be more well-rounded and do more things for this offense."
Pierce needs to prove he can be effective on shorter routes, with Steichen coaching him to tighten up the technical aspects of his game so that he has more to offer than breakaway speed. He might have the ability to get there, but in the meantime, he already has competition. After all, the Colts still have Josh Downs, one of the best wide receivers in the league, and Michael Pittman, Jr., a star whose play only slowed last season because he literally had a broken back. Pierce, as promising a talent as he may be, isn't the object of many pass attempts. So he might still have something to prove after all.
Training camp may end up be more of a make-or-break for Alec Pierce than anyone originally realized.
Colts are quietly watching this former breakout pick closer than ever
