Missing: $114 Million Man. If found, report to Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen.
Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has not practiced this summer since signing a four-year, $114 million deal this offseason. After inking his massive extension, Pierce underwent surgery on his left ankle to address a lingering injury he said he had been dealing with since 2024.
Advertisement
After the surgery, he missed team workouts in the spring at OTAs and minicamp. In June, Pierce told reporters that recovery from the procedure generally takes 4-to-6 months and that it could keep him out of training camp and into the preseason.
Before the start of training camp, the Colts placed Pierce on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. On July 28, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that Pierce was “a week or two” away from returning to practice. But the two-week mark since those comments is approaching, and Indianapolis has not given any indication that Pierce will be ready to go by its preseason opener on Aug. 13.
Here’s what we know:
COLTS INJURY NEWS: Anthony Richardson’s future could be impacted by vision concerns: Report
1 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton (15) does a passing drill with running back Jam Miller (30) during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28.
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton (15) does a passing drill with running back Jam Miller (30) during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28.
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) works with a member of the coaching staff during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28.
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
New England Patriots safety Peter Manuma does a drill during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28.
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27 in Santa Clara, California.
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)
5 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, California, on July 27.
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)
6 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws the ball during training camp workouts at Loyola Marymount University on July 27.
(Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images)
7 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the training camp workouts at Loyola Marymount University on July 27.
(Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images)
8 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Running back Jeremiyah Love – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft – carries the ball during Arizona Cardinals training camp on July 26.
(Joe Rondone, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
9 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson participates in a team practice at State Farm Stadium on July 26 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
10 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) practices during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 26.
(Joe Rondone, The Republic)
11 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (72) works out during the first day of training camp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington, on July 25.
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) goes through drills during the first day of training camp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington, on July 25.
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13 / 13
Football is back! See NFL players in action at training camp
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks toward the practice field at Missouri Western State University on July 25 in St Joseph, Missouri.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
The adage “no news is good news” generally does not apply to NFL injury updates, and Pierce’s situation is no exception.
Advertisement
On Aug. 6, Steichen told reporters that he and the Colts did not have an updated timeline on when Pierce might make his practice debut after his March ankle surgery.
“Not right now,” Steichen said. “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.”
Pierce missed training camp practice again on Aug. 9. Colts wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne told reporters that Pierce was still in good spirits despite continuing to miss time, which he sees as a positive indication of the young wideout’s recovery.
Advertisement
“We just got done talking to him about his rehab and where he is,” Wayne said. “I’m excited for him, man. He’s upbeat, so if he’s upbeat, then that means he’s where he wants to be. Where he needs to be. Obviously, we know what he means to our (receivers) room.
“I just want him whenever he’s 100%. I don’t want him at 85, I don’t want him 80 – I need him 100. However long that takes, it is what it is.”
Alec Pierce stats
Pierce earned his paycheck by becoming one of the league’s preeminent downfield receiving threats over his first four seasons in the league. The Colts liked his production enough to sign him to a massive extension to keep the wideout from hitting free agency this past March.
Advertisement
Here’s how his career looks by the numbers so far:
Pierce led the NFL in yards per catch in 2024 (22.3) and in 2025 (21.3). His 47 catches and 1,003 yards in 2025 were both career-high marks for the Cincinnati product in his fourth season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Pierce injury update as Colts WR continues to remain sidelined
