Alec Pierce Injury Update: Colts WR Expected to Play Week 1 vs. Ravens

The Indianapolis Colts appear poised to get one of their most important offensive players back just in time for Week 1.

Head coach Shane Steichen said Monday that wide receiver Alec Pierce “should be good to go” when Indianapolis hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Pierce returned to practice late last month after spending training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

That does not yet amount to an official game designation, but it is the clearest indication Indianapolis has provided that Pierce will be available for the opener.

Is Alec Pierce Playing in Week 1?

Barring a setback during the week, the expectation is yes.

Pierce was activated from the PUP list on Aug. 27 and participated in practices last week. Steichen said the Colts will continue giving him repetitions as the team prepares to face Baltimore at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 13.

Pierce did not appear in any preseason games, and Monday reportedly marked only his fifth practice since being medically cleared. That makes his progress encouraging, although Indianapolis will still have to monitor how his ankle responds as his workload increases.

What Injury Did Alec Pierce Have?

Pierce underwent surgery on his left ankle in late March after dealing with discomfort throughout the 2025 season.

The problem had reportedly bothered him since late in the 2024 campaign and became increasingly difficult to manage last year. Pierce initially received a platelet-rich plasma injection after the season, but the treatment did not resolve the issue. Doctors eventually advised that surgery would be required and that delaying it could increase the risk of a more serious injury.

The procedure was originally described as a cleanup rather than a repair expected to create long-term complications. The recovery nevertheless took longer than the Colts first projected, keeping Pierce out of organized offseason work, training camp and all three preseason games.

Pierce Is More Than Just Another Receiver

Pierce enters his fifth NFL season after producing the best year of his career.

He recorded 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, averaging an NFL-best 21.3 yards per catch. It marked the second consecutive season in which Pierce led the league in yards per reception.

Those numbers explain why his return matters so much.

Pierce changes the geometry of the field. His ability to threaten defenses vertically forces safeties to respect the deep ball and can create additional space underneath for the rest of Indianapolis’ passing game.

The Colts also demonstrated their commitment to Pierce in March by signing him to a four-year, $114 million extension. He enters 2026 not merely as a useful deep threat, but as the leading receiver Indianapolis expects to build around.

Will Pierce Be on a Snap Count?

The Colts have not announced one.

Still, it would be reasonable for Indianapolis to manage Pierce’s workload after such a limited football ramp-up. Practicing on the side and completing rehabilitation work cannot fully reproduce the strain of running routes, blocking and absorbing contact throughout an NFL game.

That does not necessarily mean Pierce will be restricted to a small role. It may simply mean the Colts rotate their receivers more frequently or remain selective about how often they ask him to run extended routes.

Steichen has expressed confidence in the existing connection between Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones, noting that the two veterans already established timing together last season. The coaching staff therefore does not appear overly concerned about their limited recent practice time.

What Pierce’s Return Means Against Baltimore

Indianapolis faces a difficult opening assignment against the Ravens.

Having Pierce available gives the Colts a way to test Baltimore vertically and potentially discourage the defense from crowding the line of scrimmage. Even when Pierce does not receive the ball, his speed can influence coverage and create room elsewhere.

The key will be whether he can play aggressively without thinking about the ankle.

A receiver who is technically active but unable to accelerate, cut or finish routes at full speed provides considerably less value. Indianapolis will likely pay close attention to how Pierce responds during practice before deciding how heavily to feature him Sunday.

The most important part of Monday’s update is that the conversation has shifted.

For most of the summer, the question was whether Pierce would be available for Week 1 at all.

Now the question is how large his role will be.

That is meaningful progress for a Colts offense entering the season with postseason expectations. Pierce gives Jones an established vertical target and prevents Indianapolis from beginning the year without the receiver it just paid to lead the position group.

There may be rust. There may be a managed workload. The Colts should not expect Pierce to immediately look like a player who completed a full offseason and preseason.

But unless something changes during the week, Indianapolis expects No. 14 to be on the field against Baltimore.

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