Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to play in Sunday’s season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, coach Shane Steichen announced Monday, marking a significant milestone in Pierce’s recovery from left ankle and heel surgery. The Colts’ top receiver had been sidelined for months before recently returning to team activities.“He should be good (to go),” Steichen said. “We’ll get him some reps in practice this week, just like he took reps last week. He’s feeling really good.”Will the Texans outlast the Jaguars in the AFC South?James BoydPierce returned to Colts practice on Aug. 27, after starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Before that day, Pierce hadn’t taken part in an on-field team activity since undergoing surgery. Steichen said last week that Pierce graduated to being a full participant.“You gotta knock a little bit of rust off,” Pierce said after a recent practice. “But (I’ve) been working in (physical therapy), been working kind of off and on with trainers. They’ve been doing a good job preparing me, getting me ready. Just a little different once you get back out here, get timing from Daniel (Jones) and these other NFL arms.”
Pierce is arguably the best deep threat in the NFL after leading the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons (22.3 in 2024 and 21.3 in 2025). However, the Colts are expecting even more from the 26-year-old after rewarding him with a four-year, $114 million contract that is the richest free-agent wide receiver deal in NFL history.Pierce is poised to take over as the Colts’ No. 1 wideout following the departure of veteran Michael Pittman Jr., who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittman led the Colts in catches in four of the last five years. Last season, however, Pierce supplanted Pittman as Indy’s most productive receiver and joined Mike Williams (2019) and DeSean Jackson (2010) as just the third player in the last 30 years to reach 1,000 receiving yards on fewer than 50 catches. His knack for explosive plays suggests he could be even more potent on a higher volume of targets.“I think that’s what I’m most excited about (in regard to) getting paid and being a free agent or getting a big contract. The coaches and the front office know they have to back up that contract, so I’m no longer gonna be an 80-target player,” Pierce said during an appearance on “Up & Adams” show shortly before he inked his massive deal with the Colts. “If I get paid this big contract, they’re gonna have to throw me the ball more.”Pierce, Josh Downs and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen will likely be the Colts’ starting receiver trio. Allen, whom the Colts signed to a one-year deal last month, was arrested last week and charged with two misdemeanors for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard said Allen will play in Week 1 without any punishment from the team as they wait for the legal process to play out.A first-time alcohol-related offense with no aggravating circumstances warrants a three-game suspension without pay, per the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse. However, the NFL typically waits for the legal process to be resolved before delivering punishment. In some recent alcohol-related cases, most players weren’t suspended until the following season because the legal process took several months before concluding.
