Colts countdown on Alec Pierce just took a surprisingly positive turn

The Indianapolis Colts said that wide receiver Alec Pierce would probably not start training camp immediately and would miss a couple of weeks. He then missed two more weeks. Recently, head coach Shane Steichen insinuated that his newly minted WR1 could be back just before preseason Week 3.

That appears to be the case, as, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Indy is activating Pierce off the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. That doesn't mean he will practice fully right away, however.

The move certainly doesn't mean Pierce is playing in the final meaningless game of the preseason, but he could at least be participating in drills before then. The issue was that the team had to make final roster cuts by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 30, and that meant a decision had to be made on Pierce by then.

Indianapolis Colts' Alec Pierce's health remains a mystery

He is obviously going to make the team, but if Indy doesn't believe that he will be ready to play before Week 5, he could still be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he won't be on the active roster. That would leave a spot open for another wideout, at least temporarily.

Had Pierce not been removed from preseason PUP before the season, the team would have to go another route and potentially lost him for much longer.

If Pierce is placed on the regular season PUP, which seems less likely now, he would have to miss at least the first four games. That doesn't mean the season is lost, of course, but the Colts do have a brutal stretch to begin the season. Indy opens against the Baltimore Ravens, then plays the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and then the less talented Washington Commanders in Week 4.

The last of those games takes place in London, England, though, and that could have a bearing on what Indianapolis wants to do about Pierce. If he is not even remotely fully healthy, then having him travel several hours to another country might not be in the player's or team's best interest.

Still, while the Indianapolis Colts' information about the status of Alec Pierce has been mercurial (and that is putting it kindly), the wide receiver still could practice before Week 1 and be ready to play against Baltimore. At a recent practice, though, he didn't exactly walk as if he was fully healthy, seemingly having a bit of a limp.

That could mean nothing, however. Maybe Pierce just had a rock in his shoe. Perhaps he always has a slight hitch in his stroll.

Pierce also doesn't need many reps to be able to have a high-end impact for the Indianapolis Colts; he has been in Steichen's system for three seasons already, and he knows it well.

The worst-case situation is that Pierce's ankle injury was far worse than the team let on, and signed him to a four-year deal this offseason that could pay the player as much as $114 million, even though he was likely to miss some of that time recovering from an injury he has had for some time. He should still be able to play somewhat soon, and as soon as Week 1.

The best-case scenario is that Pierce is truly ready to return soon, plays in Week 1, and has a breakout season where he has 80 catches and 1,500 yards receiving. That is just as possible as what could happen in a worst-case scenario.

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