The Indianapolis Colts are placing wide receiver Alec Pierce on injured reserve after he aggravated his surgically repaired left heel in last Sunday night’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pierce will miss at least Indy’s next four games against the Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. The earliest Pierce is eligible to return is in Week 7 versus the Minnesota Vikings, though Steichen declined to give a specific timeline for Pierce’s recovery.
Steichen added that Pierce will rehab, and “the plan” is for him to return at some point this season. However, when asked if a second heel surgery was off the table, Steichen said, “We’re just going to monitor that, and we’re just going to rehab (his heel),” but he did not rule surgery out.
Pierce underwent left ankle and heel surgery in late March and was sidelined for five months before resuming team activities.
The Colts re-signed Pierce on a four-year, $114 million contract in March, shortly before he had surgery on his left ankle and heel.
In Pierce’s absence, the Colts will lean on fourth-year pro Josh Downs, six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, 2016 first-round pick Laquon Treadwell and newly signed Darius Slayton, among others. Slayton spent six seasons with Colts quarterback Daniel Jones in New York with the Giants. Slayton can’t replicate Pierce’s ability to flip the field with his speed, but offers vertical prowess, as evidenced by his career average of 15.0 yards per reception.
