Colts Injury Updates Provide Encouraging Week 1 Outlook: Alec Pierce Expected to Return

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen provided several notable injury updates as the team prepares for its 2026 regular-season opener.

The Colts entered the 2026 season hoping several important players could return to their best form.

Quarterback Daniel Jones has appeared fully recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered in Week 14 of last season, while veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has gradually looked more like himself throughout the preseason.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Indianapolis, however, has been the status of wide receiver Alec Pierce. The team’s new WR1 signed a four-year, $114 million contract at the start of free agency, but he has spent most of the offseason recovering from ankle and heel surgery performed in late March.

Pierce was initially given a recovery window of roughly four to six months, creating the possibility that he could begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Although the Colts repeatedly maintained that their top receiver would be ready for Week 1, his limited involvement during training camp made that projection difficult to evaluate.

After the conclusion of preseason action, Pierce finally became a full participant in practice for the first time this offseason. Indianapolis continued to express optimism that he could suit up for the regular-season opener, and that confidence now appears justified.

Steichen told local reporters earlier today that Pierce is expected to be available when the Colts face the Baltimore Ravens on September 13.

“Yeah, he should be good. We’ll get him some reps in practice this week just like he took reps last week, and he’s feeling really good.”

The news is less encouraging for rookie safety A.J. Haulcy, who continues to deal with an ankle injury.

Haulcy had emerged as the projected starter at strong safety after second-year defender Hunter Wohler spent much of training camp dealing with a hamstring issue. With Haulcy now working his way back from injury, however, his status for Week 1 remains uncertain.

Steichen offered a cautious update on the rookie.

“Yeah, he’s still working it, but we’ll see how this week goes.”

What the Latest Updates Mean

Pierce’s situation is considerably more positive than Haulcy’s, but both injury situations are finally becoming clearer as the regular season approaches.

The Colts have dealt with plenty of uncertainty throughout the offseason, making it encouraging to finally get a better understanding of what their depth chart could look like once the games begin to count.

Pierce’s condition will become much easier to assess once Indianapolis takes the field against Baltimore. While he may not immediately resemble the fully healthy version of himself after making such a quick transition from limited offseason work to full participation, simply having him available for Week 1 represents a major boost for the Colts.

Haulcy’s potential absence would be more disappointing for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and the rest of the coaching staff, particularly after the third-round pick earned a starting opportunity. Fortunately for Indianapolis, the team has a capable alternative in Wohler.

The Colts entered the season high on Wohler’s potential, but his rookie campaign was derailed by a preseason Lisfranc injury before he had an opportunity to make a significant impact. Now in his second year, Wohler is expected to see meaningful defensive snaps, particularly in a box-safety role.

As a result, Indianapolis would certainly prefer to have Haulcy available, but the team has enough depth at safety to avoid a major crisis if the rookie is forced to miss the season opener.