Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts
Wide Receiver #14
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Alec Pierce News RotoBaller

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

Alec Pierce Set to Play in Week 1

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) will play Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Stephen Holder. The question now is how much Indianapolis wants to put on his plate right away. Pierce spent all of training camp on the PUP list after undergoing ankle surgery in March and only returned to practice on Aug. 27. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday this week, and Holder noted that a snap count is still possible. Pierce is coming off his first 1,000-yard season after catching 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. His 21.3 yards per catch led the NFL for the second straight year. Indianapolis also lists him as a starting receiver alongside Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, so the role is still there once he is fully ramped up. For Week 1, though, the possible snap restriction keeps Pierce in the boom-or-bust WR4/flex range rather than making him an automatic start.

Sep 11, 2026 11:37 AM EST

Alec Pierce Limited Again on Thursday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday as the team prepares for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the team. Pierce started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle, but it is a heel injury that has him up in the air to play this weekend versus Baltimore. If Pierce can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he should be cleared from the final injury report for Week 1. When healthy, Pierce will be a major part of Indy's passing game in 2026 after they signed him to a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March. His role should grow with Michael Pittman Jr. out of the picture, and he has already proven over the last two years that he can be a productive big-play wideout for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old has led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch, and he had 1,003 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025. Pierce is shaping up as a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy going into Week 1 if he is active against Baltimore.

Sep 10, 2026 12:42 PM EST

Alec Pierce Gets Through Limited Practice on Wednesday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Pierce is still recovering from a heel injury that kept him from practicing until late August. Head coach Shane Steichen believes Pierce should be good to go for the Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. He'll get two more chances to upgrade to full practice ahead of Sunday's season opener. Pierce expects to see a higher volume of targets after signing a massive extension with the Colts this past offseason. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for more updates on Pierce.

Sep 9, 2026 5:33 PM EST

Alec Pierce Should Be Good to Go for Week 1

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) "should be good" to play in Sunday's season opener against Baltimore, head coach Shane Steichen said, according to Joel A. Erickson. Pierce underwent ankle surgery in March and spent nearly all of training camp on the Active/PUP list before finally returning to practice Aug. 27. The Colts have been ramping him up since then, with Week 1 always the target. Pierce is coming off the best season of his career, catching 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He also led the NFL with 21.3 yards per reception for the second straight year. After spending most of the summer rehabbing, Steichen's latest update is a strong sign Pierce will be back in the lineup when Indianapolis opens against the Ravens.

Sep 7, 2026 11:50 AM EST

Alec Pierce Practices in Full on Thursday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) practiced in full on Thursday for the first time this summer after having ankle surgery in the spring, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. The Colts are just 10 days away from the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but now that Pierce is a full-go in practice, he should be expected to be active to kick off the season. General manager Chris Ballard said earlier this week that the "hope" is that the 26-year-old big-play receiver will be ready to roll versus Baltimore on Sunday, Sept. 13. Indy gave Pierce a new four-year, $114 million contract extension in March after he had a career-high 1,003 receiving yards and 47 receptions for six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025 in his fourth year in the league. The former second-rounder from Cincinnati has led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch, and he is expected to have a bigger role in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. out of town. As Pierce nears a return to full health for the start of the season, he should begin to rise up draft boards as a WR3/flex with plenty of boom potential.

Sep 3, 2026 10:57 AM EST

Alec Pierce Practicing with the Colts on Tuesday

After being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform List on Thursday and sitting out the team's final preseason game, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle, heel) was present at Tuesday's practice. Pierce underwent ankle surgery in late March after a platelet-rich plasma injection failed to alleviate the pain he'd reportedly been playing through since the end of the 2024 season. Following a career year in 2025, Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million deal in the opening moments of free agency, and after leading the league in yards per reception in each of the past two seasons, he is expected to see an expanded route tree in 2026. His presence at Tuesday's practice bodes well for his Week 1 availability and should leave drafters more comfortable with his current draft cost of WR38. UPDATE: General manager Chris Ballard said that the "hope" is that Pierce will play in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Sep 1, 2026 9:27 AM EST

Alec Pierce Out for Colts' Preseason Finale

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) participated in warmups but won't play in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, Mike Chappell reported on Saturday. The fourth-year wideout came off the Physically Unable to Perform list last week and practiced with the team for the first time on Thursday since having offseason ankle surgery. Pierce is reportedly shooting for a Week 1 return as he looks to repeat his 2025 success, having set career highs with 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. The 26-year-old has the opportunity to capitalize on those numbers by inheriting a larger workload now that Michael Pittman Jr. has departed for the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, fantasy managers should temper their expectations early in the season since it is unclear how long it will take Pierce to get up to speed after missing training camp. Pierce's fantasy stock is on the rise, but he should be considered a W4/flex option until he's fully healthy.

Aug 29, 2026 9:08 AM EST

Alec Pierce's Goal is to be Ready for Week 1

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) came off the Physically Unable to Perform list and practiced with the team for the first time this summer on Thursday after having offseason ankle surgery. After the session on Thursday, Pierce said that "Week 1 is the goal," according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. Last year, Pierce caught 47 passes for a career-high 1,003 yards and six touchdowns, and he has led the league in yards per catch in each of the last two years. It is no secret that he has big-play ability, and Pierce should have more upside in the Colts' passing attack now that Michael Pittman Jr. is no longer in town. Pierce has time to be ready to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but fantasy managers should be wondering how productive he will be early on, given all the time he missed early in training camp and the preseason. Pierce's draft stock should continue to rise as he gets his legs back under him, but fantasy managers should consider him more of a boom/bust WR4/flex option right now.

Aug 28, 2026 9:02 AM EST

Alec Pierce Activated Off PUP List

The Indianapolis Colts are activating wide receiver Alec Pierce from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday, as reported by Mike Chappell. After signing a four-year, $114 million free agent deal to return to the Colts, Pierce underwent ankle surgery in late March after a platelet-rich plasma injection failed to alleviate the pain he has played through since the end of the 2024 season. After a career-year in 2025, big things were expected of the fifth-year receiver following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr., but a lack of availability coupled with the recent signing of veteran Keenan Allen has seen him slip to WR38 by current ADP. With just over two weeks until the Colts open the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens, Pierce faces a steep ramp-up period in hopes that he could still participate. One of the league's premier deep threats when healthy, there is potential value to be found in a mid-round swing for a player who should still factor heavily into the Colts' offensive plans for 2026.

Aug 27, 2026 6:42 AM EST

Alec Pierce Expected to Return to Practice This Week

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) is expected to return to practice this week if all goes to plan, head coach Shane Steichen told Stephen Holder of ESPN. The Colts will have to activate Pierce from the Physically Unable to Perform list before he is eligible to practice with the rest of the team. Pierce had a clean-up procedure on his ankle in April that prevented him from taking the field for the start of training camp, but if he returns this week, there's still a chance he could be ready for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens in early September. The 26-year-old returning to action this week would give fantasy managers more reason to take a chance on the former second-rounder in upcoming drafts as a big-play threat in the Colts' offense. Pierce led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons, had his first 1,000-yard campaign last year, and is set for a bigger role in the passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh. He is currently ranked as the No. 48 wideout for fantasy purposes this year, but his stock could rise once he returns to practice.

Aug 25, 2026 7:56 AM EST

Alec Pierce Could Be Available, May Not Be 100% in Week 1

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) "could be available" but is unlikely to "be a super dynamic player" in Week 1, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Pierce is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works his way back from ankle surgery, which he underwent in April. The 26-year-old had the most productive year of his career in 2025, recording 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 84 targets across 15 games. The Colts handed him a monster four-year contract extension this past spring and traded away former WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Pierce in position to step into an expanded role in 2026. When healthy, Pierce is one of the most dynamic deep-ball threats in the NFL. However, his health and fantasy value both appear to be open questions heading into the year.

Aug 22, 2026 5:31 PM EST

Shane Steichen Gives Positive Update on Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen gave a positive update on wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) after Wednesday's training camp practice, saying, "Alec is in a great spot right now. I watched him work out (Tuesday) in the indoor (facility) and he's moving around really good. Hopefully we will have him back soon," per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. The 26-year-old remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list in camp after having surgery on his left ankle in April, but the Colts remain optimistic that he will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in early September. He was seen doing individual work off to the side on Wednesday, perhaps indicating that he could be getting close to coming off the PUP list. When fully healthy, Pierce is expected to have an elevated role in Indy's passing attack in 2026 now that Michael Pittman Jr. is in Pittsburgh. The former second-rounder from Cincinnati led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch (21.8), scored 13 total touchdowns in those two seasons, and had his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2025. Still, with plenty of time missed this summer and in the offseason, Pierce has become a shaky boom/bust WR4/flex target in fantasy football drafts.

Aug 19, 2026 2:47 PM EST

Colts Expect Alec Pierce to be Ready by Week 1

Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated reports that the Indianapolis Colts are "still happy" with wide receiver Alec Pierce's (ankle) progress from offseason ankle surgery and "expect him to be ready for Week 1." The team's signing of veteran wideout Keenan Allen on Monday night "has nothing to do" with Pierce's recovery. Pierce had surgery on his left ankle and remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list at training camp. The 26-year-old is not expected to return during camp, yet the Colts think he will still be recovered in time to take the field in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13. Without Pierce in the fold, Josh Downs has stepped up as the Colts' top wideout, with tight end Tyler Warren also seeing plenty of run as a top target for quarterback Daniel Jones. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons and broke out in 2025 with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games played, but fantasy managers should be concerned about his chances of an encore after missing valuable time this offseason, especially now that Allen is in the mix. He has fallen to No. 50 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the 2026 campaign.

Aug 18, 2026 8:10 AM EST

Alec Pierce to Miss All of Training Camp

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (left ankle) will miss all of training camp as he continues to recover from left ankle surgery, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. The surgery occurred in April, and while the Colts remain confident that he'll be ready for the regular-season opener on Sept. 13, it would have been nice to see Pierce get some preseason reps beforehand. He's still at least a week away from handling a normal practice workload, which could potentially have an impact on the number of snaps he plays in Week 1. If Pierce isn't at 100 percent for the season opener, we'd expect to see Daniel Jones distribute more targets to Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, as well as standout tight end Tyler Warren. As it stands, the newly extended Pierce ranks as the overall WR46 in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy football rankings.

Aug 16, 2026 6:20 PM EST

Alec Pierce Did Not Receive a Second PRP Injection

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) did not receive a second platelet-rich plasma injection this offseason after having surgery on his left ankle in late March, a league source told Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Monday night's source told the Indy Star that it had misspoken. Pierce remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list in training camp, and there is no timetable for him to return to practice with the rest of the team. The 26-year-old still has time to get back on the field and get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, but the longer he's away from the team, the harder it will be to get behind him as a solid fantasy contributor in 2026. When healthy, the former second-rounder from the University of Cincinnati has been a strong deep threat for the Colts' offense, leading the league the last two seasons in yards per reception 21.8 while scoring 13 touchdowns. Pierce is expected to take on a much bigger role in Indy's passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. out of town, but he might need to be eased in to start his fifth NFL campaign. Fantasy managers should consider Pierce more of a boom/bust WR3/flex commodity as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery.

Aug 11, 2026 7:00 AM EST

Alec Pierce Has Second PRP Injection

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) recently received a second platelet-rich plasma injection and has no timetable for a return. Pierce underwent surgery on his left ankle in March and has yet to practice this offseason. PRP injections are used to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and improve function. It's not ideal that nearly five months later, Pierce is still experiencing pain and instability. With no timetable for return, fantasy managers should be legitimately concerned. Websites and medical advisors report that improvements typically occur two to six months after the injection, so Pierce may be out until after the season begins. Ranked WR38 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Pierce should drop significantly after this report.

Aug 10, 2026 6:10 PM EST

Colts Don't Have a Timetable for Alec Pierce's Return

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Thursday that he doesn't have an update on wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) after he had offseason ankle surgery, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. "His rehab's going great, I'll say that. I don't have the timetable on his return, but he's doing a hell of a job in his rehab process," Steichen said. Pierce still has time to get ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, but it's a bit ominous that there have been very few details on Pierce's recovery from ankle surgery. The 26-year-old is expected to take over WR1 duties in Indy in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, but so far in training camp, it has been Josh Downs impressing as the team's top pass-catcher while working with quarterback Daniel Jones, who looks fully recovered from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in 2025. Pierce led the NFL with 21.3 yards per catch for the second straight season while posting a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games in a breakout campaign. The longer Pierce stays on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the more of a risk he'll be for fantasy managers as a big-play threat in the Colts' offense. He's currently ranked as the No. 39 fantasy WR for the upcoming season.

Aug 6, 2026 7:50 PM EST

Some Uncertainty for Alec Pierce's Week 1 Availability

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke with reporters on Tuesday, and in discussing the regular-season availability of his new $114 million wide receiver, Alec Pierce, he remained noncommittal but did not explicitly rule out the possibility that Pierce could miss time, as reported by the Indianapolis Star's Nathan Brown. Ballard told the assembled media, "He's not active right now. He's on PUP, and that's kinda a day-by-day thing... I'm not a doctor so we'll just play it by ear and see how it goes." Pierce opted for offseason surgery after a platelet-rich plasma injection did not relieve the pain of a nagging ankle issue he has been dealing with since 2024. While he has yet to practice since signing his new deal or going under the knife, Ballard did not seem overly concerned about his recovery timeline, telling reporters that he was "a week or two away," and later, "Of course, we'd like to have him right now, but Pierce is working his butt off, and he'll be ready to go when he's completely cleared," Pierce is RotoBaller's WR39 and could prove to be one of the best values in 2026 drafts if he's able to start the season without restriction.

Jul 29, 2026 6:03 AM EST

Alec Pierce a Week or So Away From Returning

The Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday for the start of training camp, and general manager Chris Ballard said on Tuesday that Pierce is a week or so away with his ankle rehab, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Pierce was given a timetable of four to six weeks when he had ankle surgery in March, so his placement on the PUP list to begin the week wasn't a huge surprise. Barring a setback, the Colts are still optimistic that Pierce can be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $114 million contract back in March, and veteran Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, so when healthy, Pierce is expected to be Indy's new WR1 in 2026 and beyond. He's off to a bad start in camp, though, especially with quarterback Daniel Jones rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon. Pierce has become more of a risky WR3/flex big-play receiver after leading the NFL in each of the last two seasons in yards per catch. He broke out with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL.

Jul 28, 2026 7:48 AM EST