Four weeks out from the season opener, the Indianapolis Colts are staring down a truly volatile wide receiver situation, and a huge chunk of that problem is tied straight to Alec Pierce’s massive new deal. The guy signed a four-year, $114 million contract back in March, and he has not seen a single snap of training camp. Seriously, he has missed all 10 practices recovering from offseason ankle surgery, leaving the Colts with zero depth outside the numbers.
Jones Does His Part, But Who’s Catching The Ball?
Yeah, the weather forced Saturday’s practice indoors, but Daniel Jones still showed up in that hour-long, red zone focused session. He was carving up defenses, recognizing coverages, and delivering darts in tight spaces. You saw him split a Cover 2 with a 20-yard wheel route to tight end Tyler Warren for a touchdown. Then he tossed a beautiful dime to the far pylon, where Josh Downs made an absolutely sensational leaping grab over cornerback Justin Walley for a 10-yard score. Jones was even creating plays on the move, faking play action, rolling right, and hitting Laquon Treadwell for another 10-yard touchdown near his hip. The dude went 7-of-14, throwing a few away willingly rather than forcing a pass, and his only real mistake was rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher getting a hand on a throw near the goal line. He capped it all off by letting plays develop and hitting Ashton Dulin in the end zone. So, Jones is cooking, but can he keep that up when the receiver cupboard is looking so bare?
The WR Depth Is Giving Me Cold Sweats
While Jones was slinging it, the situation around him is getting dicey. Downs, after that insane catch, came down hard and briefly left the field with tightness in his right hamstring. He did return for the final team period and caught a short hitch, which is a good sign, but it was still a scare, wasn’t it? With Pierce out for basically the entire offseason program so far, the depth chart is looking thin. There are three guys battling for that WR3 spot: Nick Westbrook-Ikhene, Dulin, and Treadwell. The Colts lean heavily on 12 personnel with two tight end sets, so whoever wins that battle will still have limited opportunities. Over a dozen receivers, including three free agents, were trying to make a case on Saturday, but it’s hard to ignore how much this team needs Pierce healthy and ready to go. The season opener is four weeks away. This is not the time for this kind of uncertainty.
This receiving corps situation is a mess, and it could totally derail the Colts’ early season. With only a month until kickoff, they need Pierce on the field, or someone else has to step up in a major way. The next few practices are going to be critical to see who can make an impact.
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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