Colts place WR Alec Pierce on IR, sidelining $114M signing and prompting roster depth moves in Indianapolis
On Sept. 23, 2026, the Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Alec Pierce on injured reserve, coach Shane Steichen told WISH-TV, saying there is no timetable for his return though the team plans for him to return this season. Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract this offseason; the Colts added Darius Slayton for depth.
The Colts announced that wide receiver Alec Pierce has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining an aggravation of a prior heel injury during a non-contact play in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Shane Steichen said Pierce had surgery on his heel in March, missed training camp, and hit rehabilitation landmarks before the season; Pierce was in a boot and on crutches after the game and has five catches for 72 yards this season.
Steichen said the team has no timetable for Pierce’s return but plans for him to return this season and that staff will monitor his rehab while assessing the need for any further surgery. To add depth after the roster move, the Colts signed former Giants receiver Darius Slayton; Steichen described Slayton as a speed player who “should be good to go” for the Colts’ upcoming Sunday game, which the team said has a 1 p.m. kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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