Grading the signing: Colts bring in proven veteran to bolster the pass-catching unit following injury to star WR Alec Pierce
The Indianapolis Colts fell to 0-2 after Monday night’s loss to Kansas City, but the bigger concern is the health of their wide receiver and what it means for a passing attack that already looked thin.
The Indianapolis Colts have a problem at wide receiver, and it just got worse. After falling to 0-2 with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, the Colts received discouraging news on wideout Alec Pierce. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Pierce has re-aggravated the very same heel that he had surgically repaired this offseason.
The decision, however, is to avoid a second surgery. Indianapolis, Pierce, and his doctors have opted to rehab the injury and hope that the heel responds to treatment. As for a timeline, there is no definitive timetable for his return, but per Ian Rapoport, it figures to be several weeks.
Where do the Colts go from here at wide receiver?
So the immediate question becomes how the Colts fill the void in the passing game. The truth is, anyone who watched that offense against Kansas City saw the limitations in real time. The passing attack boiled down to wide receiver Josh Downs, tight end Tyler Warren, and not much else for quarterback Daniel Jones.
Keenan Allen is still on the roster, but his situation is complicated. He’s facing a three-game suspension, and his performance Sunday night against the Chiefs did nothing to inspire confidence. That leaves the Colts thin at a position where they needed depth even before Pierce went down.
Indianapolis signs veteran WR Darius Slayton
Reinforcements are on the way, though. As reported by Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix Sports, with Alec Pierce sidelined because of the heel injury, Indianapolis is signing Darius Slayton, who was with the Giants for the last 7 years.
Slayton is quietly one of the more proven and productive wide receiver options in the league. He no longer fit with the New York Giants after that room became crowded in a hurry, and he became a free agent somewhat out of nowhere. Now he lands in Indianapolis, where there is an obvious opportunity for snaps and targets.
Darius Slayton 2025 stats
14 games played
- 37 receptions
- 538 receiving yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
Grading the Darius Slayton signing: B
I think this is a smart move for the Colts. Slayton isn’t a No. 1 receiver, but he’s a reliable WR2/WR3 who can step in and give Jones a trusted outside option while Pierce works his way back. The Colts’ passing attack needed another body, and Slayton provides legitimate production rather than a practice squad flier.
Pierce will not have surgery, and the Colts will monitor how long it takes him to return to form. In the meantime, Slayton steps into the lineup as Indianapolis tries to dig out of a 0-2 hole with a passing game that needed the help.
