After several changes this offseason, the Indianapolis Colts hope they are in a position to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Some key veterans were traded or not re-signed, meaning others who are expected to step up have more pressure on them. That includes wide receiver Alec Pierce.
The issue is that he appears to have had an ankle issue he was playing through, and he then had offseason surgery to correct the problem. That was the hope anyway. Indy fans didn't know about the surgery and ankle injury until after Pierce had signed a new deal for four years and as much as $116 million.
What was initially thought to be just a clean-up procedure appears to either have gone wrong or the injury was far worse than initially assumed. This week, head coach Shane Steichen certainly didn't make fans feel better, as the coach said the receiver was aiming to be back by Week 1. He used that tragic and suspicious word "hope," though. That word often makes fans feel uncomfortable.
Shane Steichen might have given Indianapolis Colts fans reasons to fret about Alec Pierce
Steichen said on ESPN's NFL Live, "I know (Pierce's) goal is to be ready for Week 1. We're hoping for the same."
The timeline for Pierce's return has seemingly been pushed back, if Steichen's words can be taken literally. Originally, the thinking was that the wide receiver would be ready for the start of training camp, then a couple of weeks into camp. Now the "hope" is that he can be back for the start of the regular season.
What's frustrating about the situation is that the receiver had surgery in late March. If he doesn't come back until Week 1, that means he would have had a nearly six-month recovery. That obviously doesn't indicate he had a minor procedure, but instead a relatively major one.
Many national pundits scoffed at the amount of money the wideout signed for, but Colts fans probably felt a lot better about it overall. Pierce has been an underrated gem for at least two seasons, and with more targets, he would probably be one of the best 10 receivers in the NFL. Again, that is the hope.
Maybe Shane Steichen misspoke a bit. Perhaps he was simply trying to convey that Alec Pierce will be back well before the start of the season and will participate in some of training camp. Camp begins on Wednesday, July 29, a day after veterans report. Pierce's story will obviously be one to watch, but at least he should be available for real games. That's the hope, at least.
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