The Indianapolis Colts got an important piece of their offense back Thursday, activating wide receiver Alec Pierce off the physically unable to perform list.
Pierce had been sidelined throughout training camp after undergoing ankle surgery in March. His return to practice does not necessarily mean he is fully back to his normal role yet, but it is still a significant step as the Colts continue preparing for their regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pierce is expected to ramp up gradually,
and the goal is for him to be ready for Week 1. After missing valuable time with Daniel Jones and the starting offense during camp, every rep he can get between now and the opener becomes important.
Pierce’s ankle situation had been one of the more frustrating storylines of camp. The injury bothered him last season, and after a platelet-rich plasma injection did not produce the desired result, Pierce and the Colts decided surgery was the best path forward. The goal was to address the soreness rather than have him play through the same issue again in 2026.
That decision now appears to have put him in position to return before the regular season, which is a major boost for an offense that needs him.
The Colts re-signed Pierce in March to a four-year, $114 million extension, making it clear they view him as one of the key pieces of their passing game. That became even more important after Indianapolis traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the offseason. With Pittman gone, Pierce is expected to take on a larger role as one of the featured receivers in the offense alongside Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and tight end Tyler Warren.
Pierce earned that opportunity with the best season of his career in 2025. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time, finishing with 1,003 yards on 47 catches. He also led the NFL in yards per catch for the second straight season, averaging 21.3 yards per reception and continuing to establish himself as one of the league’s premier vertical threats.
That explosiveness is exactly what the Colts need back in the lineup. Pierce changes how defenses have to play Indianapolis because of his ability to stretch the field and punish single coverage. His chemistry with Jones will be something to monitor, especially after the missed camp time, but getting him off PUP gives the Colts a chance to build that connection before the games count.
There is still some caution here. Being activated does not automatically mean Pierce is ready for a full workload, and the Colts will likely be conservative with his ramp-up. Still, after weeks of uncertainty, Pierce is finally back on the practice field, and his Week 1 outlook looks much more encouraging than it did earlier in camp.
