The Indianapolis Colts needed a quality WR3 after trading Michael Pittman Jr. this past offseason to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team hoped one would emerge from the players already on the roster, but that didn't turn out to be the case. Instead, Indy signed veteran free agent Keenan Allen.
He has only been with the team for a short time, so is he ready to begin picking up a lot of valuable reps? Likely, and fans will learn that in preseason Week 3 when Indy plays the Detroit Lions, as Allen is expected to play, at least in limited fashion.
Allen isn't injured and hopefully will stay healthy for the rest of his career, but the team might have decided not to risk him getting injured by having him play in a meaningless preseason game. Instead, the wide receiver will play a series or two.
Keenan Allen is expected to play for the Indianapolis Colts in preseason Week 3
He won't be joined by fellow receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, however. Pierce is fresh off the physically unable to perform list, and while he participated in some practice on Thursday, he isn't going to suddenly play in the preseason. Downs is dealing with a calf injury, though hopefully not one that is a long-term concern.
Allen won't be catching passes from quarterback Daniel Jones, either. Jones isn't injured, but doesn't need meaningless reps, and will mark his return from a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14 last year by playing in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
One can almost bet that the first play Indianapolis runs against Detroit on Saturday will be a pass from Anthony Richardson, who appears to have the advantage at QB2 entering the season, to Keenan Allen. Why not have the play be that, even if the Lions know it's coming? If the pass is intercepted, who cares? It's a meaningless game.
Except for many starters going through the motions of pretending to play in a real game. Besides Jones, Pierce, Downs, and tight end Tyler Warren, most other starters, offensive and defensive, are expected to get between 8 and 12 plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
The final preseason game of 2026 for Indy will see the team host the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a kickoff set for 1 pm ET. The game can be viewed on CBS4 in Indianapolis and nationally on the NFL Network. Those tuning in will get to see Keenan Allen suit up in a preseason game for the first time for the Colts, and maybe catch a pass or three.
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