Alec Pierce
Wide Receiver #14
Alec Pierce News
Alec Pierce Won't Practice This Week
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) will not return to practice this week as he continues to rehab a heel injury, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Bowen does not think Pierce will come off Injured Reserve anytime soon. The 26-year-old big-play wideout aggravated his surgically repaired left heel in the Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and has not played since. While Pierce might be making progress, he has been slow to recover, and it does not sound like he is close to a return, even though he is technically eligible to come off IR for the team's Week 7 contest this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. Pierce's big-play abilities downfield make him worth stashing in most fantasy football leagues despite his injury. Until he can return, Josh Downs and veteran Keenan Allen will continue to see more targets, especially if tight end Tyler Warren (groin) misses anymore time. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons and had his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2025.
Oct 19, 2026 10:56 AM EST
Alec Pierce Worth Stashing as Injured Reserve Stint Continues
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) remains a very intriguing player to stash in fantasy football, despite his current status on injured reserve. It was previously reported that Pierce is no longer wearing a cast, but he still isn't close to returning. With that being said, there's still an opportunity for managers to make some strategic roster moves, especially in leagues with IR spots. Pierce had four catches for 61 yards in his only game with a snap share higher than 26%. Evidently, availability has been his biggest flaw this year, but if he can return from IR midseason and stay on the field, his big-play upside will help him re-establish himself as a low-end WR2 in PPR leagues. Upon his return, Pierce will look to build on his 2025 season, during which he finished as the overall WR28 in scoring. Given that managers have already started dropping him to waivers out of impatience, there's now a glaring opportunity for savvy managers to add him and build an even stronger roster before lineups lock in subsequent weeks.
Oct 16, 2026 10:05 PM EST
Alec Pierce Out of his Cast, Might Not be Close to a Return
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is no longer wearing a cast on his left ankle/heel, but The Athletic's James Boyd said that he did not get the sense that Pierce is close to a return. The earliest he can return from Injured Reserve would be in Week 7 on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. We will see if the big-play receiver can return to practice next week when he is eligible, but as of right now, fantasy managers should not be expecting Pierce to return immediately. The 26-year-old aggravated his heel/ankle injury in the Week 2 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and was then placed on IR. Without Pierce in the fold, the Colts have leaned on Josh Downs and veteran Keenan Allen, although both pass-catchers are nursing injuries going into the Week 6 tilt at home against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, so even though he might not be back for another couple of weeks, he is worth stashing in most fantasy leagues. He is rostered in 55% of Yahoo leagues.
Oct 14, 2026 5:07 PM EST
Alec Pierce Worth Stashing on Injured Reserve
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is a stash for managers who have an open IR spot and can afford to wait. Pierce aggravated his left heel in Week 2 against Kansas City, the same heel that required offseason surgery, and Indianapolis placed him on injured reserve on Sept. 26. He has to miss at least four games, making Week 7 against Minnesota the earliest he can return. There is no guarantee he will be ready then, either. The current plan is rehab rather than another surgery, with a midseason return the hope if recovery goes well. Pierce had five catches for 72 yards in two games before the injury, but the reason to hold him is what he did last year. He finished 2025 with 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns while leading the NFL at 21.3 yards per catch. Indianapolis also re-signed him to a four-year deal in March. Pierce is not a short-term waiver solution, but his big-play role gives him enough upside to justify an IR stash.
Oct 2, 2026 6:25 AM EST
Alec Pierce Placed on Injured Reserve
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is being placed on injured reserve after aggravating his surgically repaired left heel, head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday, according to James Boyd. Pierce will miss at least four games while he rehabs the injury. Steichen said the Colts are hopeful Pierce can return at some point this season, but there is no firm timetable. Pierce underwent surgery on the ankle/heel in March and missed most of the offseason before returning ahead of Week 1. He caught five passes for 72 yards across the first two games before aggravating the injury Sunday night against Kansas City.
Sep 23, 2026 7:51 AM EST
Alec Pierce Hoping to Return in Four to Six Weeks
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is hoping to return in roughly four to six weeks after getting a second opinion on the injury, according to ESPN. Pierce aggravated the same left heel that required surgery in March during Sunday's overtime loss to Kansas City. The current plan is to rehab the injury rather than undergo another procedure, although surgery remains possible if the recovery does not go as hoped. Pierce had one catch for 11 yards before leaving Sunday and has five receptions for 72 yards through two games. The four-to-six-week window is the target for now, but the Colts expect his week-to-week progress to determine whether he needs more time.
Sep 23, 2026 7:19 AM EST
"No Guarantee" Alec Pierce is Able to Return by Midseason
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) left Sunday night's loss to the Chiefs after aggravating a heel injury that had been surgically repaired, and with the fifth-year veteran opting to attempt rehab without another surgery, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport shared on Tuesday that the hope is he'll be able to return by midseason, but "there's definitely no guarantee." Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million deal this offseason but missed most of training camp after the initial surgery and caught four passes in the season opener while working on a limited snap count. While Rapoport praised Pierce for his willingness to return, he did add, "When surgery is a possibility, and you elect to rehab, there's always a chance that it doesn't go great." In Pierce's absence, Josh Downs is a must-roster player, fresh off a seven-catch, 72-yard performance.
Sep 22, 2026 9:52 AM EST
Alec Pierce Set to Miss "Several Weeks," Could Return Midseason
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is set to miss "several weeks" after aggravating a heel injury in his team's Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Pierce had surgery on the affected heel over the offseason. However, Rapoport reports that Pierce will now attempt to rehab the injury rather than opt for a second procedure. Pierce recorded four catches for 61 yards on six targets in Indianapolis' Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and one catch for 11 yards against the Chiefs before being forced to leave the game. Pierce was expected to take on a starring role in the Colts' offense after the team handed him a four-year, $114 million contract in March. Without him, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren have a chance to dominate target share in Indianapolis. Veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen, Laquon Treadwell, and the recently signed Darius Slayton could see larger roles as well.
Sep 21, 2026 5:20 PM EST
Alec Pierce Aggravates Heel That he Had Surgery On
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) aggravated something in his heel that he had surgery on, and the Colts are still evaluating him after he left Sunday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, head coach Shane Steichen told Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts. The Colts are expected to have more information on Pierce's status later in the week. The 26-year-old hobbled off on Sunday night after catching his only target for an 11-yard gain, and he was unable to put any weight on his leg before being carted to the trainer's room in KC. We will have a better idea of Pierce's Week 3 status later in the week, but as of right now, fantasy managers should not be expecting him to be ready to suit up this Sunday at home against the division-rival Houston Texans. Josh Downs will be Indy's top option at wideout if Pierce misses any time, with veteran Keenan Allen becoming an interesting speculative pickup off the waiver wire this week, even though he could be facing a suspension from the NFL. Through the first two games of 2026, Pierce has caught five of his seven targets for 72 yards and zero touchdowns.
Sep 21, 2026 1:23 PM EST
X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alec Pierce's Heel
X-rays on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce's injured heel came back negative on Sunday evening, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Pierce will be further evaluated on Monday. Pierce's left heel has been bothering him of late, and he looked to be in quite a bit of pain before leaving the Sunday night game early on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, Pierce had to be carted to the locker room and was quickly ruled out after that. Before leaving, he caught his only target for 11 yards, so he was yet again a disappointment for fantasy managers in Week 2. It is good news that X-rays came back negative, but it does not mean that Pierce will be ready to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Houston Texans next Sunday. Pierce is a big-play threat when healthy, but he has not really been healthy since having cleanup surgery on his ankle back in the spring. If he misses time going forward, Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren will be the biggest beneficiaries in the passing game. Veteran Keenan Allen could play a bigger role as well, but he is also facing a potential suspension for an off-the-field legal issue.
Sep 20, 2026 7:17 PM EST
Alec Pierce Will Not Return Against Chiefs with Heel Injury
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) will not return to the Sunday Night Football Game with a heel injury he suffered in the first half, as the team downgraded him from questionable to out. According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Pierce was carted off the field and went back to the locker room. It appeared that Pierce was not able to walk on it. Pierce caught his lone target for 11 yards before exiting. The Colts will rely on wide receivers Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Tyquan Thornton, and tight end Tyler Warren, among others, while Pierce is out.
Sep 20, 2026 5:27 PM EST
Alec Pierce A Deep League Start, Still Working Back From Injury
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) recovered enough from an offseason surgery on his lower leg to play in his team's Week 1 contest. He hauled in four of his six targets for 61 yards in that game, totaling 10.1 PPR fantasy points. He's reprising his role as one of the best deep threats in the NFL, as he's averaged over 20 yards per reception each season over the last two seasons. When healthy, he's the clear WR1 for his team, and he's likely to continue to improve as the season goes on. There was a lot of skepticism about his potential return to health this year, as he was held out of practice and visibly limping as recently as a few weeks before the season started. Week 2 presents a difficult matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Pierce seems to be doing well, though Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is also working back from an injury, and will need to be on top of his game for Pierce to have a great day. The fifth-year wideout checks in as a risky WR3/flex in fantasy football for this contest.
Sep 19, 2026 4:25 AM EST
Alec Pierce Officially Cleared to Play in Week 2
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) practiced in full on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into his team's Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old was held out of practice on Thursday due to a heel issue, but it appears the injury is not serious enough to keep him off the field on Sunday. In the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Pierce recorded four catches for 61 yards on six targets. The talented wideout is expected to play a larger role in his team's offense in 2026. However, Indianapolis has other capable target-earners in wide receivers Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, as well as tight end Tyler Warren. The Colts also face a tough matchup against the Chiefs defense, which dominated the Denver Broncos' passing game in Week 1. All in all, Pierce profiles as a borderline flex option for fantasy managers in Week 2.
Sep 18, 2026 1:03 PM EST
Alec Pierce Returns to Practice on Friday
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is back at practice on Friday after not going on Thursday due to a heel injury, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Pierce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, so his absence on Thursday could have just been for rest purposes. The 26-year-old also suffered a wrist/hand injury in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but tests later revealed that it was nothing serious. All signs are pointing towards Pierce being ready for the Week 2 tilt this Sunday night on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, but fantasy managers will want to check back on his status on the team's final injury report on Friday. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Cincinnati has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, and he should be considered a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy lineups this weekend if he is active. Pierce caught four of his six targets last Sunday for 61 yards in the 41-23 loss to the Ravens.
Sep 18, 2026 8:24 AM EST
Alec Pierce Absent from Thursday's Practice
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (undisclosed) did not practice on Thursday after logging a full participation on Wednesday. It is unclear whether this was a planned rest day or a setback after missing most of training camp while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. The Colts' number one receiver was able to suit up for the season opener and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards, but he was clearly still limited, running fewer routes than both Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, as well as tight end Tyler Warren. The Colts face the Chiefs on Sunday night, making it all the more important for fantasy managers to have a pivot plan if Pierce is unavailable for Week 2; his status will need to be monitored when the team releases its official injury report later in the day.
Sep 17, 2026 9:38 AM EST
Alec Pierce Practicing in Full Ahead of Week 2
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Pierce was dealing with a heel issue heading into the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but he played and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards (15.3 yards per catch). The 26-year-old also picked up a wrist injury in Sunday's 41-23 loss, but it was not significant enough to keep him from practicing in full on Wednesday. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Cincinnati should be in the clear to play without any restrictions in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Against a Chiefs defense that looked stout in their Week 1 win against the Denver Broncos, Pierce will be a boom-or-bust WR4/flex on the road in primetime.
Sep 16, 2026 2:46 PM EST
Alec Pierce "Good Right Now" After Suffering Wrist Injury
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that wide receiver Alec Pierce (wrist), who banged up his wrist in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, is "good right now," according to James Boyd of The Athletic. X-rays on Pierce's left hand/wrist came back negative after Indy's 41-23 loss, so Pierce should be in the clear for a Week 2 showdown on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday. The 26-year-old started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle in the spring, but he was active for the season opener and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards in the loss to Baltimore. As long as Pierce does not suffer a setback with his hand/wrist injury in practice this week, he should be active against the Chiefs as the Colts look for their first win in 2026. Pierce should line up as at least a WR3/flex for fantasy managers in that matchup with his big-play abilities deep down the field.
Sep 14, 2026 10:49 AM EST
Alec Pierce Underwent X-Rays on Left Hand and Wrist
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (hand, wrist) underwent X-rays on his left hand and wrist early during Sunday's Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Nathan Brown of IndyStar. Pierce was taken to the locker room mid-game for evaluation, but those tests came back negative, confirming that he avoided a fracture after hitting his hand on the helmet of a Ravens defender. Still, Pierce was seen wearing a soft brace after the game, and he'll presumably undergo additional evaluation to determine the severity of his injury and next steps in the recovery process. Pierce finished the season opener with six targets, four catches, and 61 yards. As of now, it's too early to tell whether Pierce might play in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. If he does, he'd rank as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with substantial volume.
Sep 13, 2026 3:52 PM EST
Alec Pierce on a Pitch Count for Week 1
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be on a snap count for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team hasn't announced how much Pierce will play, but Garafolo hears that it will be around 20 to 30 snaps. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a heel injury, and although he doesn't have an official injury designation for Week 1, he's evidently at less than 100 percent. The pitch count drops him to the low-end WR3 territory this week, and managers should strongly consider starting other receivers with more full workloads. This update from Indianapolis also suggests that we could see more volume for Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. The former has more appeal than the latter, but both could garner their own WR3/flex upside in deeper leagues.
Sep 13, 2026 6:52 AM EST
Alec Pierce is Cleared to Play, but a Risky Start in Week 1
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) shed his injury designation Friday afternoon and will play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Fantasy managers should still exercise some caution, however, as Pierce logged limited practices all week and missed the entirety of training camp while on the Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. As of Friday afternoon, it is unclear if the veteran receiver, who led the NFL for two consecutive years in most air yards per reception, will be on a snap count. Even though Pierce finished the 2025 season as the WR23, his injury woes during the off-season pushed him into the later draft rounds, and he was drafted around WR40. Therefore, he is probably not in many starting lineups outside of deep leagues, 3WR leagues, or knockout formats. Additional uncertainty surrounds Pierce's connection with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles). It is true that Pierce had two top-five finishes last season after Jones went down with a torn Achilles in Week 14. However, Pierce logged five top-24 finishes with Jones under center, showing a level of familiarity that translates to fantasy success. Pierce managers who don't need a WR4/flex option are best served keeping him on the bench, if possible, for Week 1 to build confidence in his recovery and observe his rapport with Jones.
Sep 12, 2026 4:02 AM EST
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