Alec Pierce, the wide receiver who inked a massive four-year, $114 million free agent deal back in mid-March, is still sidelined and won’t be hitting the field for the Colts’ joint practices with the Falcons this week. Yeah, you read that right. Five whole months after his late-March ankle surgery, he’s nowhere near practice.
Pierce’s Long Road Back, Or Not
What is going on here? The dude got a platelet-rich plasma injection right after the season, trying to dodge surgery. That didn’t work. So, he went under the knife, spent three weeks in a walking boot, and could only lightly jog eight weeks post-op before deciding the surgery was finally the only way to get relief. Now, nearly five months on, the Colts’ assistant general manager Ed Dodds says they’re “pleased” with his rehab. Dodds even went as far as to say, “I’m not concerned about Alec,” and “He’s doing good. He’s working hard.” But let’s be real, his team isn’t expecting him back over the next week, which includes those joint practices and a preseason game on Saturday. He’s still stuck on the Physically Unable to Perform list. You sign a guy for $114 million, you expect him to be *on the field*, especially with the season opener against the Ravens just four weeks away. This is getting wild.
Other Niggles and Opportunities
It’s not just Pierce dealing with the injury bug, either. The Colts’ injury report was nearly double-digits after their first on-field action post-Thursday’s preseason opener against New England. Good news, though: some key guys came back Sunday. Rookie linebacker CJ Allen, who’s had a hamstring issue among other things and missed most of camp, was back. Same for rookie offensive guard Jalen Farmer and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, both of whom missed Saturday’s practice. That’s a relief, for sure.
But hold up, more bad news. All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward is still out with back pain that started after last Sunday’s practice, forcing him to miss the east coast trip. Receiver and return specialist Anthony Gould, who didn’t even play in the preseason game, has now missed two practices with a groin injury. Offensive tackle Luke Tenuta is also out, missing his second straight practice with what looks like a knee injury from Thursday night’s game. And then there’s DJ Giddens. His nagging hamstring injury has kept him off the field longer than anyone else lately, besides Pierce. This has opened the door for Seth McGowan, the seventh-round pick, who’s absolutely crushing it with the elevated reps backing up Jonathan Taylor. Plus, second-year back Ulysses Bentley IV, who has the best pass-catching hands in that RB room, is making a strong case for the No. 3 spot. These injuries are giving other guys chances, but man, you gotta wonder when this team gets healthy.
The Colts face the Falcons in their second preseason game this Saturday, and you’ve gotta hope they can start getting some of these key players back on the field. With the regular season opener against the Ravens looming in just four weeks, they need all hands on deck.
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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