Sep 18, 2026, 5:03 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) practiced in full on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into his team's Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old was held out of practice on Thursday due to a heel issue, but it appears the injury is not serious enough to keep him off the field on Sunday. In the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Pierce recorded four catches for 61 yards on six targets. The talented wideout is expected to play a larger role in his team's offense in 2026. However, Indianapolis has other capable target-earners in wide receivers Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, as well as tight end Tyler Warren. The Colts also face a tough matchup against the Chiefs defense, which dominated the Denver Broncos' passing game in Week 1. All in all, Pierce profiles as a borderline flex option for fantasy managers in Week 2.--Will Brady
Source: Indianapolis Colts

Sep 18, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

As he has done throughout his four-year career, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs worked primarily from the slot in a Week 1 loss to the Ravens, and although he led the team in pass-play snaps, he earned only three targets, finishing with two receptions for 37 yards. With fellow wideout Alec Pierce seemingly being eased back toward a full workload and running only 22 total routes after missing most of training camp while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Downs had the opportunity to seize a more impactful role, but he was unable to capitalize. After missing practice on Thursday with a heel injury, Pierce returned to the field on Friday, and there is an expectation that his involvement will continue to ramp up, so Downs' usage will need to be monitored moving forward, but a similar role in the team's Week 2 matchup with the Chiefs could lead to him becoming an early-season drop candidate.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 18, 2026, 12:24 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is back at practice on Friday after not going on Thursday due to a heel injury, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Pierce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, so his absence on Thursday could have just been for rest purposes. The 26-year-old also suffered a wrist/hand injury in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but tests later revealed that it was nothing serious. All signs are pointing towards Pierce being ready for the Week 2 tilt this Sunday night on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, but fantasy managers will want to check back on his status on the team's final injury report on Friday. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Cincinnati has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, and he should be considered a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy lineups this weekend if he is active. Pierce caught four of his six targets last Sunday for 61 yards in the 41-23 loss to the Ravens.--Keith Hernandez
Source: 107.5 The Fan - Kevin Bowen

Sep 17, 2026, 1:38 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (undisclosed) did not practice on Thursday after logging a full participation on Wednesday. It is unclear whether this was a planned rest day or a setback after missing most of training camp while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. The Colts' number one receiver was able to suit up for the season opener and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards, but he was clearly still limited, running fewer routes than both Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, as well as tight end Tyler Warren. The Colts face the Chiefs on Sunday night, making it all the more important for fantasy managers to have a pivot plan if Pierce is unavailable for Week 2; his status will need to be monitored when the team releases its official injury report later in the day.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Joel A. Erickson

Sep 16, 2026, 6:46 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Pierce was dealing with a heel issue heading into the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but he played and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards (15.3 yards per catch). The 26-year-old also picked up a wrist injury in Sunday's 41-23 loss, but it was not significant enough to keep him from practicing in full on Wednesday. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Cincinnati should be in the clear to play without any restrictions in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Against a Chiefs defense that looked stout in their Week 1 win against the Denver Broncos, Pierce will be a boom-or-bust WR4/flex on the road in primetime.--Keith Hernandez
Source: 107.5 The Fan - Kevin Bowen

Sep 16, 2026, 11:28 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen has formally been charged following his Aug. 30 arrest, according to Mike Chappell. Court records show Allen is facing two misdemeanor counts, one for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and another for operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to 0.15 or more. The charges replace the preliminary allegations reported after his arrest, though the case remains ongoing and Allen has not been convicted. There has been no new NFL discipline announced. Allen was available for Indianapolis in Week 1 and caught all six of his targets for 32 yards in the loss to Baltimore. For now, his fantasy status does not change, but managers should keep an eye on the situation in case the league takes action later in the legal process.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Mike Chappell

Sep 14, 2026, 3:35 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen gave fantasy managers a usable PPR line in his team debut, catching all six of his targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 41-23 loss to Baltimore. The yardage was modest, but six catches mattered in an offense that struggled to generate much through the air. Allen only signed with Indianapolis on August 19, yet he opened the season with the first team and immediately carved out short-area work. That fits what he did last year with the Chargers, when he caught 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns. The Colts still have Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren demanding targets, so there is not much reason to expect Allen to suddenly become a high-ceiling option at age 34. The reception floor is the appeal. He is worth adding in 12-team PPR leagues for receiver depth, especially if a manager needs a steady bench option rather than a swing for upside. Allen is better viewed as a stash than a preferred Week 2 start at Kansas City.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 14, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that wide receiver Alec Pierce (wrist), who banged up his wrist in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, is "good right now," according to James Boyd of The Athletic. X-rays on Pierce's left hand/wrist came back negative after Indy's 41-23 loss, so Pierce should be in the clear for a Week 2 showdown on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday. The 26-year-old started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle in the spring, but he was active for the season opener and caught four of his six targets for 61 yards in the loss to Baltimore. As long as Pierce does not suffer a setback with his hand/wrist injury in practice this week, he should be active against the Chiefs as the Colts look for their first win in 2026. Pierce should line up as at least a WR3/flex for fantasy managers in that matchup with his big-play abilities deep down the field.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd

Sep 13, 2026, 7:52 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (hand, wrist) underwent X-rays on his left hand and wrist early during Sunday's Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Nathan Brown of IndyStar. Pierce was taken to the locker room mid-game for evaluation, but those tests came back negative, confirming that he avoided a fracture after hitting his hand on the helmet of a Ravens defender. Still, Pierce was seen wearing a soft brace after the game, and he'll presumably undergo additional evaluation to determine the severity of his injury and next steps in the recovery process. Pierce finished the season opener with six targets, four catches, and 61 yards. As of now, it's too early to tell whether Pierce might play in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. If he does, he'd rank as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with substantial volume.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Nathan Brown

Sep 13, 2026, 10:52 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be on a snap count for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team hasn't announced how much Pierce will play, but Garafolo hears that it will be around 20 to 30 snaps. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a heel injury, and although he doesn't have an official injury designation for Week 1, he's evidently at less than 100 percent. The pitch count drops him to the low-end WR3 territory this week, and managers should strongly consider starting other receivers with more full workloads. This update from Indianapolis also suggests that we could see more volume for Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. The former has more appeal than the latter, but both could garner their own WR3/flex upside in deeper leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Mike Garafolo

Sep 12, 2026, 8:02 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) shed his injury designation Friday afternoon and will play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Fantasy managers should still exercise some caution, however, as Pierce logged limited practices all week and missed the entirety of training camp while on the Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. As of Friday afternoon, it is unclear if the veteran receiver, who led the NFL for two consecutive years in most air yards per reception, will be on a snap count. Even though Pierce finished the 2025 season as the WR23, his injury woes during the off-season pushed him into the later draft rounds, and he was drafted around WR40. Therefore, he is probably not in many starting lineups outside of deep leagues, 3WR leagues, or knockout formats. Additional uncertainty surrounds Pierce's connection with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles). It is true that Pierce had two top-five finishes last season after Jones went down with a torn Achilles in Week 14. However, Pierce logged five top-24 finishes with Jones under center, showing a level of familiarity that translates to fantasy success. Pierce managers who don't need a WR4/flex option are best served keeping him on the bench, if possible, for Week 1 to build confidence in his recovery and observe his rapport with Jones.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Sep 12, 2026, 4:34 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (calf) practiced in full all week and looks to put his minor training camp injury behind him as he goes into Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. Admittedly, Downs is coming off a rough 2025 season, setting career lows in receiving yards (566), targets (88), and receptions (58). Even though Michael Pittman Jr. moved on during the offseason, Downs will still share targets with freshly acquired veteran Keenan Allen and Alec Pierce (heel), with the latter possibly being on a snap count in Week 1. Downs showed promise last year between Weeks 6 and 9 with quarterback Daniel Jones, finishing as a WR2 in each week except for Week 7 when he was ruled out due to a concussion. Looking to this Sunday, Downs has a decent matchup against the Ravens defense, which ranked in the bottom five against wide receivers last year. However, the Ravens defense got a massive overhaul in the offseason and will almost certainly show different schemes this year under new head coach Jesse Minter. This week, Downs is Rotoballer's WR33, placing him firmly in WR3/low-end flex territory, but with high upside.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Sep 11, 2026, 3:37 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) will play Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Stephen Holder. The question now is how much Indianapolis wants to put on his plate right away. Pierce spent all of training camp on the PUP list after undergoing ankle surgery in March and only returned to practice on Aug. 27. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday this week, and Holder noted that a snap count is still possible. Pierce is coming off his first 1,000-yard season after catching 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. His 21.3 yards per catch led the NFL for the second straight year. Indianapolis also lists him as a starting receiver alongside Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, so the role is still there once he is fully ramped up. For Week 1, though, the possible snap restriction keeps Pierce in the boom-or-bust WR4/flex range rather than making him an automatic start.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Stephen Holder

Sep 10, 2026, 4:42 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday as the team prepares for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the team. Pierce started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle, but it is a heel injury that has him up in the air to play this weekend versus Baltimore. If Pierce can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he should be cleared from the final injury report for Week 1. When healthy, Pierce will be a major part of Indy's passing game in 2026 after they signed him to a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March. His role should grow with Michael Pittman Jr. out of the picture, and he has already proven over the last two years that he can be a productive big-play wideout for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old has led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch, and he had 1,003 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025. Pierce is shaping up as a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy going into Week 1 if he is active against Baltimore.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Indianapolis Colts