Colts Activate Alec Pierce From PUP List

A spring ankle surgery sidelined Pierce, who signed a four-year deal worth $116MM just before the legal tampering period began in March. Guaranteeing Pierce (PFR’s No. 2-ranked free agent) $60MM at signing, the Colts were not believed to be concerned the deep threat would miss regular-season time. He now has two-plus weeks of practice ahead of Indianapolis’ Week 1 game.

The NFL’s yards-per-catch leader in 2024 and ’25, Pierce underwent the procedure after an unsuccessful PRP injection. He spent more than a month on Indy’s active/PUP list, but with the deadline for teams to shift players to the reserve/PUP list (which requires a four-game season-opening absence), the Colts are moving toward having their top receiver available when they open their season.

The team traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers, in what amounted to a salary-dump deal, on the same day they paid Pierce. The Pittman move left the Colts a bit thin at receiver, but the team added ex-Shane Steichen Chargers pupil Keenan Allen this month. Allen is expected to play in the Colts’ third preseason game, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes. Allen will join Pierce and Josh Downs as Indy’s top receivers entering the season.

In addition to Allen suiting up for the Colts’ preseason finale, Steichen said DeForest Buckner will play a handful of snaps. Buckner has been steadily recovering from a neck injury that cost him time last season. The injury eventually required surgery, and while the All-Pro defensive tackle avoided the active/PUP list to open camp, this will be his first game action since being placed on IR for a second time to close last season. Buckner, 32, is entering his seventh season with the Colts. His two-year, $46MM extension expires after the 2026 campaign.