Alec Pierce will play for the Colts against the Ravens, but he will not be a full-go in Week 1.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Sunday morning that Pierce will be on a snap count in Indianapolis’ season opener against Baltimore. Garafolo said he does not expect Pierce to handle a full workload and added that one source estimated Pierce would play roughly 20 to 30 snaps.
That would put Pierce below his normal usage, especially for a player expected to have a major role in the Colts’ passing game this season. It also lines up with where things have been trending after Pierce missed most of training camp while recovering from ankle surgery.
Pierce was activated off the physically unable to perform list late in camp, giving him a chance to be available for the opener. That was the first important step, but being active and being ready for a full workload are two different things, though, and the Colts appear prepared to manage him carefully in his first game back.
From a football standpoint, Pierce’s presence still helps. Even on a limited snap count, his vertical speed forces Baltimore to respect the deep ball and gives Daniel Jones another outside option.
Still, the limited workload is worth watching. Pierce is expected to be one of the Colts’ top offensive weapons after a breakout 2025 season, and Indianapolis needs him healthy for the long run. Pushing him too hard in Week 1 would not make much sense if the team believes he is still ramping back up.
For now, the main takeaway is simple: Pierce is available to play against the Ravens, but he isn’t 100% yet.
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