The Indianapolis Colts are already facing some serious pre-training camp drama, with linebacker CJ Allen and wide receiver Alec Pierce landing squarely on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). This isn’t the kind of news you want dropping just as everyone’s getting hyped for football to really kick into gear, especially when key players are involved.
Alec Pierce’s Offseason Ankle Mess Still Haunts The Colts
Let’s be real, this isn’t just a minor bump in the road for Pierce. The guy is still deep in recovery from offseason ankle surgery. That explains why he was completely M.I.A. for any on-field parts of the offseason programs. The real kicker here? His return date is completely up in the air; nobody knows when he’s actually going to rejoin practice.
Pierce himself, talking during minicamp via Mike Chappell, didn’t exactly instill confidence. He said he hoped to be back “right before the season or ready to go sometime during camp, whether that’s the beginning of the end.” Talk about vague, right? For a wide receiver, missing vital reps to build chemistry with the QB and get timing down is a huge hurdle. This isn’t just about getting healthy; it’s about being ready to contribute when the season hits.
Presumed Starting MIKE Linebacker CJ Allen Hits PUP, But It’s Brief
Over on the defensive side, it’s presumed starting MIKE linebacker CJ Allen who’s also on the PUP list. Now, this one sounds a bit less catastrophic, thank goodness. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Allen is dealing with a calf injury, but Holder also adds that his absence is “expected to be brief.” That’s a huge sigh of relief compared to Pierce’s situation, but you still hate to see a guy penciled in for a starting role missing any time.
Allen is a big piece of that defensive puzzle, and missing even a brief period means he’s losing out on valuable training camp reps. Getting everyone comfortable in new schemes and building that defensive cohesion is crucial, and having your presumed starting MIKE on the sidelines, even for a short bit, isn’t ideal. Every day counts when you’re trying to gel as a unit before the season opener.
So, while players on the PUP list can be activated at any point once they’re medically cleared, these are definitely two major question marks looming over the Colts as training camp officially gets underway. Fans better be glued to their screens for every update on both Allen’s calf and Pierce’s ankle. Getting these guys back on the field, healthy and ready, is going to be absolutely critical for the team’s start to the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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