Colts WR Alec Pierce Undergoes Ankle Surgery, Faces 4-6 Month Recovery

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce faces a four-to-six-month recovery after left ankle surgery performed in March, ESPN reported. Pierce signed the four-year $114 million contract extension before the procedure. He said the surgery followed months of worsening ankle pain that began in 2024 and intensified during the 2025 season.

"It definitely got a little bit worse as the season went and probably the last month, I'd say I was kind of struggling ... Taking some days off [from practice] and stuff," Pierce said. He added that the issue forced him to miss practice days and that doctors told him surgery would likely be required either in the 2026 offseason or in 2027.

After the season, Pierce underwent platelet rich plasma treatment in January. " "It didn't fix the problem," he said. Pierce and medical staff then decided to proceed with surgery in the weeks after he signed the extension.

The Colts wide receiver said the ankle soreness had been consistent throughout the prior season and that he viewed the operation as unavoidable. He described the current focus as balancing aggressive rehabilitation with the patience required for proper healing. "I think obviously we want the [return] to be as early as possible," Pierce said.

ESPN reported that the timeline could keep him out well into training camp and past the preseason.