Colts WR Alec Pierce Expected To Miss Several Weeks

Alec Pierce aggravated his troublesome heel issue Sunday night, and the Colts’ top wide receiver will miss time as a result. While Pierce is not planning to undergo another surgery, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes a few missed games — at the very least — are expected.

The now-high-priced pass catcher’s nonsurgical route will bring a weekslong absence, per Rapoport; a midseason return appears the best-case scenario. A second surgery should still be considered in play, Rapoport indicates. This is a tough blow to a Colts team that gave Pierce a four-year, $114MM deal in free agency.

Prior to paying Pierce (and trading Michael Pittman Jr. to help create cap space), the Colts knew the deep threat would need offseason surgery. The procedure kept him out into training camp; Indianapolis did not activate him from the active/PUP list until August 27. Today’s decision to avoid another operation came after Pierce received a second opinion on the aggravation, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

A big market awaited Pierce after his second straight season leading the NFL in yards per catch. The Commanders were believed to be the runners-up for Pierce’s services, with several other teams — as Connor Byrne’s Colts Offseason in Review examined — drove up the Pierce price. The Colts offloaded Pittman’s salary to the Steelers, adding only a sixth-round pick, to clear space for Pierce’s second contract and a two-year, $88MM Daniel Jones extension. It is worth wondering if buyer’s remorse is setting in on Pierce, at least.

The former second-round pick — PFR’s No. 2-ranked free agent this offseason — received $60MM guaranteed at signing. That covers the first two years of Pierce’s deal, and a $10MM 2028 guarantee locks in on Day 5 of the ’27 league year. Considering the dead money that would be on Pierce’s deal if it is jettisoned before then, the contract brings a $70MM practical guarantee. The Colts will need to wait a while before it pays off.

It is far too early to call this a sunk cost, as the Colts had not seen the Cincinnati product battle notable health issues during his rookie contract. Pierce played in 64 of a possible 68 games from 2022-25, but the Colts will be reliant on Josh Downs and Tyler Warren moving forward.