Alec Pierce missed most of the offseason program and training camp while recovering from late-March surgery. The Colts gradually ramped him up after removing him from PUP on August 27, but he re-aggravated the issue in Week 2 and landed on injured reserve.

He signed a four-year, $114 million deal with Indianapolis this offseason and has managed just five receptions for 72 yards in what has been a lost start to the 2026 season.

NFL Fans Frustrated as Alec Pierce Remains a Few Weeks Away From Game Action

The injury has been a recurring problem for Pierce since late in the 2024 campaign, and there was hope the offseason surgery had resolved it for good before the Chiefs game changed that.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero provided an update on his status on Saturday, and fans reacted with a mix of frustration and resignation.

Pierce was placed on injured reserve after the Week 2 setback, which ruled him out for a minimum of four games. He had already missed most of the offseason program and was limited throughout training camp while recovering from the late-March surgery, and the Colts had carefully ramped Pierce back up after surgery, but the heel did not hold up once he returned to game action.

He was spotted without a cast on his left ankle earlier this week, which offered some encouragement, but the earliest he can come off injured reserve is Week 7 against the Vikings. Pelissero’s update made clear the return is still some distance away.

“Alec Pierce (heel) continues to progress but is likely still a few weeks away from game action and isn’t expected to return to practice when first eligible next week,” Pelissero reported.

The update did not land well with Indianapolis fans. Pierce has managed just five receptions for 72 receiving yards on the season, and the responses spoke for how little optimism is left.

“Please just shut him down for the season. This team isn’t going anywhere this year. Even if he comes back, he’s not going to be 100%,” one user wrote.

Colts Unplugged’s Logan Hancock had already reached the same conclusion. “At this point I’ve just accepted that he probably won’t play another snap this season,” Hancock wrote.

“Feels like a completely lost season for him at this point,” commented one fan.

InjuryExpertz’s Dr. Jesse Morse weighed in when a fan asked whether Pierce could contribute on a fantasy roster down the stretch.

“I don’t trust Pierce until I see he’s significantly healthier,” Morse wrote.

The contract came up as well. “Man that Pierce contract gonna shake milk unless he got no lingering injuries after this,” said one fan.

“Jonathan Taylor is nerfed for a few more weeks,” quipped another.

The Pierce injury has forced Indianapolis into short-term moves that have not worked out. The Colts signed former New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton in September to fill the deep-threat role Pierce was meant to play but released him roughly four weeks later before he ever took a regular-season snap.

Without Pierce on the field, Indianapolis has leaned on Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and tight end Tyler Warren in the passing game. Downs was limited Wednesday by rest and a hamstring issue but returned to full participation Thursday and Friday and carries no game designation against Tennessee.