Alec

Pierce

The complicating factor of a tag for Jones, as Battista writes, is that Alec Pierce is also a worthy franchise tag candidate for the Colts. Time flows like a river, and Daniel Jones finds himself in an enviable bargaining position once again. The Colts were expected to open extension talks with Jones “soon” at the Super Bowl and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts and Jones started hammering some terms out at the NFL Combine.

Coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns as the Colts’ de facto WR1, Pierce is expected to be a popular name in free agency among wideout-needy teams. ESPN’s Ryan McFadden said last week that the Raiders would also pursue Pierce in free agency. “Pierce has the vertical stretch ability to produce down the field and can play a volume role as a multilevel target for quarterback Cam Ward,” Bowen said. In Tennessee, Pierce would instantly become the team’s No. 1 receiver, though it’s hard to say if Ward would be an upgrade over the quarterbacks Pierce had in Indianapolis last season. Ward in 2025 was 21st out of 35 qualifying QBs in accuracy on downfield throws. His 9.6 percent downfield passing rate was among the lowest in the league.

Part of the offensive overhaul under Klint Kubiak will be to figure out how to fix last year’s wideout room, which ended the season with Tre Tucker and a dusty Tyler Lockett getting the majority of the snaps. Franchise-tagging Pierce could be in play for the Colts. Kubiak just spent half a season with Shaheed, so that pairing has some extra juice. (Though it should be noted Shaheed didn’t exactly thrive on offense with Kubiak.)

Pierce went nuclear against Houston’s backup cornerbacks, notching a huge deep touchdown over a peeking-in-backfield Tremon Smith. He was ejected after making (light) contact with an official in the third quarter arguing a non-call in the end zone. Setting a career-high in targets and yards in the final year of his rookie deal, Pierce looked to be coming on in the middle of the season. He went from an average of 2.8 catches and 54.8 yards in his first four games to an average of 3.6 catches, 72.4 yards, and all four of his touchdowns from Weeks 7-16. That includes a dud with Philip Rivers and does not include his Week 17 disaster bagel. Pierce proved that he has a future at the top of someone’s route tree this season. He may draw a protective franchise tag or transition tag from the Colts, but if not, Pierce figures to be one of the best free agents on the market.

It’s the first bagel on six or more targets since Calvin Ridley’s 0-for-8 against the Colts in Week 6 of the 2024 season. Pierce did manage to draw a near-end zone defensive pass interference call to get the Colts into goal-to-go, so you can hold that in some solace while you stare at the zero in your box score. Pierce, an impending free agent, seems like someone who could possibly rest in Week 18 against the Texans in a meaningless game for the Colts. Shane Steichen wasn’t forthcoming on answers on resting players in the post game scrum.

Pierce was shot out of a cannon, connecting with veteran quarterback Philip Rivers on two first half touchdowns as the two teams traded blows early. He added his longest reception of the evening in the second half on a 33-yard grab as the team fought to keep their season alive, only to fall short while being eliminated from postseason contention. Pierce might have a very different fantasy outlook for the final two weeks of the regular season if the team turns back to rookie Riley Leonard under center.

Pierce was able to get in a couple of full practices, and barring a setback, the 25-year-old should be ready to roll for the Monday Night Football tilt against the 49ers. Pierce’s skill set does not pair well with Philip Rivers, so he should be consider as a WR4 at best for the foreseeable future.

He should be good to go for Week 16’s Monday affair against the 49ers. However, it’s hard to project much in terms of passing volume for the downfield threat with Philip Rivers under center. Expectations should be managed, pushing Pierce into the WR4/WR5 range.

ESPN’s Stephen Holder tells readers to “stand down,” because this is “just a precautionary situation.” We still think this is worth following closely. It is unclear when the injury occurred. This is the Colts’ first practice of the week. They face the 49ers on Monday night. If a capable pass catcher is removed from the offense this week, it would slightly increase the target share projections for the remaining, healthy players.

Pierce was always going to be a loser of the Colts’ Philip Rivers experiment. Pierce generally operates as an intermediate and deep target, and he now has a 44-year-old quarterback who is physically unable to throw it more than 20 yards or so. Pierce’s lone grab in Week 15 came near the sideline; Pierce boxed out his defender and made a nice grab on a floater from the weak-armed Rivers. Pierce isn’t fantasy viable for as long as Rivers is under center.