The Indianapolis Colts are just days away from a 2026 campaign that could change the fortunes of many involved in the organization. The team presumably needs to make the playoffs, or general manager Chris Ballard and/or head coach Shane Steichen could be out of a job. As for wide receiver Alec Pierce, he is just fine...financially.
Physically, he is still working his way back from surgery on his ankle in March. He recently returned to practice in terms of full participation, but...wait...Did he actually do that? The Colts' first injury report for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens implies that maybe the team's new WR1 hasn't.
According to the team's official injury update, Pierce was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday because of a "heel." This could mean that Indy was just giving him a bit of a rest at times to ramp him up for lots of reps. That assumption might be incorrect, though.
Indianapolis Colts list Alec Pierce as "limited" in first injury report ahead of Week 1
Also of note, rookie safety AJ Haulcy was listed as limited because of an ankle issue, tight end Drew Ogletree was limited with a neck problem, and recently acquired center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger was limited because of an illness.
If Van Pran-Granger (possibly a name derived directly from a Washington Irving story) was actually sick, and maybe he was -- maybe Indy should have kept him home. If he makes the rest of the team sick days before the first game of the season, that would be a big mistake.
Getting back to Pierce, however, elite Indianapolis beat reporter Mike Chappell says reporters spoke with Pierce in the locker room and the receiver is "ready to go" for Week 1, but that the wideout who was re-signed this offseason for four years and $34 billion (OK, that's only a slight exaggeration) could be on a snap cunt for the opening of the season.
That doesn't just mean the first game against the Baltimore Ravens, but the second game against the Kansas City Chiefs, too. The premise is awful. Alec Pierce needs to get healthy, of course, but the team needs him to win games. It's a nightmarish Catch-22.
Of course, the first injury report of Week 1 means nothing. Neither will Thursday's update. Fans should check back with Horseshoe Heroes for the updated information to see what Friday's injury report says. The assumption is that Pierce will be listed as probable or questionable, or whatever the NFL calls "likely" for games these days.
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