Alec Pierce’s return date for the Indianapolis Colts just got clearer following crucial update from head coach Shane Steichen
The Indianapolis Colts have been waiting with bated breath to see Alec Pierce return to practice, and following an update from Shane Steichen, we have an idea of when that may be.
The Indianapolis Colts received a significant boost on Tuesday when ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported that wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to return to practice this week. Pierce, who has been sidelined with an ankle issue that required surgery earlier in the offseason, appears on track to suit up for the Colts in Week 1 if all goes according to plan.
Alec Pierce Quick Facts
– Signed a lucrative contract extension this offseason.
– Required ankle surgery shortly after signing his new deal.
– Was reported that he had more injections; the Colts denied it.
Pierce’s rocky road to the field
The timeline around Pierce’s availability has been anything but clean. Shortly after signing his extension, news broke that he needed ankle surgery. At the time, the expectation was that Pierce would recover in time for training camp. The whole situation was murky and unsettling for a Colts fan base counting on Pierce as a cornerstone of the offense.
But all of that appears to be behind Indianapolis now. Pierce is slated to return to practice, and the timing matters. With final cuts approaching and the preseason finale on the horizon, many were growing anxious. All anyone had seen from Pierce was him walking around the facility, and multiple observers noted he looked stiff.
Why this matters for the Colts offense
The truth is, Alec Pierce is now the bona fide No. 1 wide receiver in Indianapolis. Michael Pittman Jr. was traded, and that left Pierce as the top target for the Colts’ passing attack. A lot of NFL fans outside of Indianapolis don’t realize how good Pierce is, or how underrated he has been. Now that he’s been paid to be one of the better receivers in the league, I firmly believe he’s going to hit another level.
If that ankle is right, and if he returns to practice this week with roughly two weeks until the regular season kicks off, Pierce should be just fine. I doubt we’ll see him play in the preseason finale, but that’s not the point. The point is availability for Week 1.
Indianapolis could have a big offensive year
Put the pieces together and the Colts’ offensive outlook is encouraging. Tyler Warren also dodged a major bullet with his injury, and having both Warren and Pierce in a passing attack creates problems for opposing defenses. Add Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, and Indianapolis could be in for a strong offensive season, reminiscent of what we saw during the first half of 2025.
The bottom line is that Pierce’s return to practice removes the biggest cloud hanging over the Colts’ offense heading into the regular season. The ankle situation was messy, the setback was concerning, and the lack of on-field work had fans justifiably worried. None of that matters now if Pierce can stay healthy and ramp up over the next two weeks.
