Alec Pierce's ankle saga just added another chapter. The Colts wideout received a second PRP injection in his left ankle, according to a report relayed by SleeperNFL, continuing a recovery process that's dragged on since last season.
For those keeping score at home: Pierce played through the ankle issue all of 2025, got an initial PRP shot after the season that didn't fully solve the problem, and ended up undergoing cleanup surgery in late March with an expected 3-to-6 month recovery. That surgery is why his camp availability was already a question mark heading into 2026.
SleeperNFL followed up with a clarification worth noting - this isn't a new setback, and it's not clear exactly when the second injection happened. There's just still no hard date for when Pierce is back on the field.
Clarification - Alec Pierce did not have a setback, per @RomeovilleKid There isn’t a timetable for his return - and it’s unclear when he had the second PRP injection.
Dr. David Chao, a longtime NFL injury analyst, chimed in with some perspective that should calm Colts fans down a notch - multiple PRP injections for the same injury are common practice, not a red flag on their own.
Multiple PRP injections are common
The stakes here are real. Indianapolis just locked Pierce up on a 4-year, $116 million extension in March, keeping him off the market after teams like the Patriots, Raiders, Chargers and 49ers reportedly circled. He'd earned it - Pierce led the NFL in yards per catch for a second straight year in 2025, setting career highs with 84 targets, 47 catches and 1,003 yards. Losing him for any real stretch of 2026 would sting for an offense that just bet big on his deep-threat ability.
None of that changes the calculus for Yahoo Fantasy's Josh & Hayden, who flagged before this update that Pierce could actually see even more volume in 2026 than last year if he's healthy - a big if right now given the ankle news.
Josh and Hayden break down why Pierce's target share could climb in 2026 even coming off the injury.
For now, the Colts are left in wait-and-see mode. No setback, no timetable - just a receiver getting more treatment on an ankle that's already cost him surgery and months of uncertainty.