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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 33m ago
Colts WR Alec Pierce activated from PUP list, set to practice for first time this offseason
A welcome sight will be waiting for Daniel Jones the next time he takes the practice field.
The Colts have activated wide receiver Alec Pierce from the physically unable to perform list, sources confirmed to IndyStar. It's a relief for an Indianapolis offense that relies heavily on Pierce’s unique ability to take the top off of NFL defenses geared towards taking away the deep ball.
Pierce is such an important piece of the offense that Indianapolis signed the fifth-year wideout to a four-year, $114 million contract this spring, trading long-time No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh to ensure Pierce’s new deal would fit on the team’s payroll. Pierce’s ability to beat secondaries deep is a rare commodity in the modern NFL; no receiver has averaged more than 20 yards per reception on at least 35 catches since DeSean Jackson in 2021, and Pierce has done it in back-to-back seasons.
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But all of those deep routes have taken a toll on Pierce’s right ankle, and after a January platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection failed to improve the ankle, Pierce underwent surgery in March to “clean up” the ankle. Pierce’s surgery carried a recovery time of four to six months, and the Colts signed him in free agency anyway, believing in the wide receiver’s ability to return by the start of the regular season.
Pierce was not available for the start of training camp, and the Colts placed him on the physically unable to perform list; Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard opened training camp by saying that Pierce would likely be out for one to two weeks before returning to the lineup. It ended up being more than four weeks.
“Obviously, we know what he means to our (receiver) room,” receivers coach Reggie Wayne said. “But I just want him whenever he’s 100%. I don’t want him 85%. I don’t want him 80%. I need him 100%.”
Without Pierce, Indianapolis has spent most of training camp with veteran receivers Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the outside receiver roles, flanking Josh Downs. Dulin and Westbrook-Ikhine have both been big-play threats in the past, but neither player has been a full-time starter. Then, 10 days ago, the Colts signed 34-year-old veteran free agent receiver Keenan Allen — a move Colts head coach Shane Steichen said at the time was not related to Pierce’s recovery timeline or at all indicative of Indianapolis’ doubts of Pierce being ready for Week 1.
The Colts needed Pierce, and he appears to be fully recovered and ready to start practicing now.
Just in time for Jones.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts WR Alec Pierce activated from PUP list, set to practice for first time this offseason
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Colts WR Alec PiercePUPHe'llDaniel JonesThe ColtsAlec PierceIndyStarIndianapolisPierce’sNFLPierceMichael Pittman Jr
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