The Keenan Allen signing is already looking like a much bigger deal following Colts HC Shane Steichen’s comments
The recently-signed Keenan Allen might be 34 years old. But the Indianapolis Colts are clearly expecting him to play a major role on offense ahead of the 2026 regular season.
After months of speculation, the Indianapolis Colts made it happen. They’re adding veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to their ranks. But what can the six-time Pro Bowler bring to the table at 34 years old?
Colts head coach Shane Steichen went into detail about his expectations for Allen. And frankly? His comments make the signing look much more promising than many might expect at first.
First of all, the Alec Pierce question
Many have been quick to speculate that bringing in Allen is a negative sign on Pierce’s status. The younger Colts wide receiver is currently rehabbing from ankle surgery and remains on PUP. But according to Steichen, adding Allen is completely unrelated.
“That’s completely independent,” Steichen told reporters Wednesday. “Alec’s (Pierce) in a great spot right now. He’s doing really good. I watched him work out yesterday in the indoor. He’s moving around really good. So, hopefully we’ll have him back sooner than later.”
That alone makes the signing even better, as it means quarterback Daniel Jones is on track to play with a increasingly deep group of playmakers. One that includes Allen and Pierce but also Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren (who will be fine after an injury scare).
“I think it could be really special, to be honest,” Steichen said about the group. “Alec (Pierce) obviously is a hell of a football player, which you guys know. (Josh) Downs, Tyler (Warren), and then adding Keenan (Allen) to the fold. I think we can do a lot with those guys and move bodies around and find matchups. That’s our job as coaches to get that done, so we’re really excited about that moving forward with him.”
What does Allen add to the Colts?
Steichen was quick to mention “veteran presence,” which is the minimum fans can expect. But the Colts head coach isn’t setting low expectations for Allen’s production. Nor does he expect the veteran to struggle picking up the offense—which he’s already familiar with from Steichen’s time with the Chargers.
“He’s been productive every single year he’s been in the league,” Steichen said. “So obviously, we want him to be productive again this year. He’ll come in – obviously, he’s been in this system. He’ll pick it up quickly, but he’ll play outside. He’ll play inside. We’ll move all our guys around.”
While Steichen admitted Allen is not “going to be out there 70 plays a game,” he expects the veteran to be a big part of the offense. And a big reason why he isn’t worried about his age is that Allen’s secret to success isn’t so much about his athleticism as it is his football IQ.
“He’s the most cerebral receiver I’ve ever been around,” Steichen added. “He sees the game like a quarterback – how to run routes, how to attack leverage, how he sees coverage, especially inside in the slot, outside. How corners play, how linebackers play him in the slot. That’s built-up reps over the years, and he’s seen so many different looks. It’s like clockwork for him in his brain, and so I think having that at that position as you get older really helps you in the long run.”
The Colts are ramping up Allen ahead of the 2026 regular season, with Steichen planning to “really get him going next week.”
But make no mistake about it. The Colts are bringing Allen to make an impact, not to ride the bench. It will be very intriguing to see how they distribute the snaps. Indianapolis already ranked Top 15 in 11 personnel usage at 63% of the snaps last year, per SumerSports. I wouldn’t be surprised about that number inching closer to 70% in 2026.
“(Allen) is going to play and produce.”
