5 players that have to step up for Colts to turn things around in 2023

As the Indianapolis Colts try to turn things around in 2023, they will need some players to be even better moving forward.

The Indianapolis Colts are in quite an interesting situation when it comes to success on the football field. The roster is filled with talented players, however, it did not lead to much success in terms of wins and losses. Now this happens to teams all the time and can come down to a variety of factors whether that be injury, coaching, or players just not playing well.

Indianapolis had a mix of all three of those factors, so they look to stay healthy, a new coach Shane Steichen was hired, and a few players will need to have much better years than they did last year. Some players had great years for this team, however, there is always better to do when it comes to winning.

There are plenty of guys that will need to step up for this team to have success and take down the Jacksonville Jaguars for the division crown, but there are a few in particular that will have to lead the way here. Some are younger and need to take that next step, some dealt with injury and look to have a successful and healthy year, and some just need to get back to playing the way they used to.

If the Colts can successfully figure out this puzzle, then they will have a chance at success with a rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson leading the way, but who on his supporting cast will look to step up for him?

5. Alec Pierce must step up for Colts

In 2022 the Colts did not have a first round pick, and fans had to wait a while to hear their team select their next young talent for this team. Alec Pierce was the guy that came off the board, and there were decent expectations for the young receiver out of Cincinatti.

As most do, he took some time to adjust to the NFL level, and the rough quarterback situation did not help his rookie season. Overall though, he had a solid first-year campaign, all things considered, finishing with 41 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns.

The numbers are not eye-popping, but now entering his sophomore season in the NFL, those numbers should only continue to rise as he steps into a larger role this season. He will also be building his rapport with Anthony Richardson, and as the second receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr., it will be important for Pierce to be that safety valve for the young quarterback.

Someone stepping up in this receiving core is going to be one of the biggest things to watch heading into next season, and Pierce should be a major part of this core's improvment.