Alec Pierce Is Out, And The Colts Just Pulled Two WRs From The Practice Squad

The Indianapolis Colts just made a significant roster move, officially placing wide receiver Alec Pierce on injured reserve, a decision head coach Shane Steichen actually talked about earlier this week. This is a big shake-up for their receiving corps, no doubt about it.

Pierce’s Heel Injury Puts Him On The Shelf For At Least A Month

Pierce is set to miss at least the next four games, and it’s all because he aggravated that heel injury. This isn’t just some new tweak either; the guy already had surgery on it this offseason. You just hate to see a player go through that, especially right when the season is in full swing. Losing a starting wideout for a month, especially one dealing with an existing issue, that’s a tough break for any team trying to stay competitive. It forces their hand big time.

Practice Squad Plugs Step Up To Fill The Void

To fill Pierce’s spot on the active roster, the Colts immediately signed wide receiver Anthony Gould off their practice squad. Gould isn’t a total stranger to the action; he actually got elevated for their Week 2 loss to the Chiefs, where he returned four kickoffs. So, he’s seen the field in a real game, which is something. But that’s not all! The Colts *also* elevated wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the practice squad, but this one’s on a temporary basis. Westbrook-Ikhine brings some serious career experience, boasting 137 catches for 1,862 yards and 19 touchdowns in 93 career games. That’s a solid veteran presence they’re bringing up temporarily, which tells you just how much they need to shore up that receiver room right now.

With Pierce sidelined for at least four games, the pressure is squarely on Gould and Westbrook-Ikhine to step up and produce. It’s a classic “next man up” scenario for the Colts, and how these guys perform will dictate a lot about the passing game in the immediate future.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.