RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Indianapolis Colts have a major question mark in wide receiver Alec Pierce before the start of the season, but the team offered up some positive injury news on Tuesday.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pierce, who is on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, is a candidate to “hopefully” return to practice this week.
Steichen added that Pierce is “in a really good spot,” also.
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Pierce has been bothered by an ankle issue since 2024 and had a procedure done this spring after a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection didn’t work out for him.
He did not take part in OTAs or minicamp before being sidelined in training camp
“It definitely got a little bit worse as the (2025) season went,” Pierce said to JJ Stankevitz of the team’s official website back in June.
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“Probably the last month I’d say I was kind of struggling – (it) affected practice, I’d taken some days off. I’m glad they figured out what the issue was and we were able to fix it,” he added.
Pierce’s surgery came not long after he signed a four-year, $114 million contract.
Huge news for Colts
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14), Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) and Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen are seen prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters) It goes without saying Pierce’s return to practice will be huge for the Colts.
Not only is he their No. 1 wide receiver, but the Colts would be perilously thin at the position without Pierce on the field.
Outside of wideouts Josh Downs and the recently-signed Keenan Allen , the Colts don’t have much for quarterback Daniel Jones in the way of depth.
Alec Pierce’s fantasy football outlook
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) is pushed out of bounds by Houston Texans cornerback Ja’marcus Ingram (42) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Pierce is coming off a career season in 2025 after ripping off 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 47 receptions despite missing two games. It was his first 1,000-yard season.
That showing was good enough to land him as the WR28 overall, according to Fantasy Pros , and make him a flex option in points-per-reception (PPR) formats.
One issue with Pierce’s value in PPR leagues is he doesn’t catch a lot of passes, which is how he ranked so low despite totaling 1,000 yards.
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If you put Pierce’s numbers into a standard league, he ranked 12 spots higher.
Pierce is an electric player and an elite deep threat, but that also makes him a feast or famine kind of player and keeps his reception totals low.
It’s possible Pierce finishes as a legit WR2 in PPR now that he’s the clear No. 1 wide receiver in Indy, but for now we’ll pencil him in as an every-week flex option.
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