INDIANAPOLIS -- More than eight months after he last played in a regulation NFL game, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce made his biggest step toward getting back on the field.
Pierce on Thursday was activated from the physically unable to perform list, moving him closer to playing in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens following his offseason ankle surgery.
Pierce practiced with the Colts on Thursday in a limited capacity and now the race is on to get him ready to roll.
"First time being back out here wearing a helmet, playing with the other NFL players," he said. "So, you've got to knock a little bit of rust off."
Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March, essentially confirming his role as the Colts' No. 1 receiver. But soon after that transaction came word that he needed surgery to relieve ankle pain that plagued him last season, when he led the NFL in yards per catch for the second straight season (21.3).
The surgical procedure to address the unspecified issue, Pierce said, came after other efforts aimed at avoiding surgery. Pierce and his doctors initially tried using a platelet-rich plasma injection, but it did not have the desired effect after the requisite six to eight weeks.
That led to the delayed surgery, which resulted in a rehab process that kept him out of the Colts' entire training camp.
"I'm definitely of the mindset of trying to avoid the knife as much as possible," Pierce said. "I think you can do a lot with [physical therapy] and rehab. So that's what we did. We did that shot and I started a bunch of PT and rehab. We scanned to see if the issue had been solved, and it hadn't been solved."
Pierce now says the issue should be permanently corrected. The return of Pierce on Thursday was met with elation from his teammates, who had a noticeable reaction when he took the field.
"Anytime you have a star player come back off an injury and be out there with the guys," coach Shane Steichen said, "it brings a lot of juice to the football team."
Pierce rejoins an offensive lineup the Colts believe can compete with anyone in the AFC. The Colts return quarterback Daniel Jones (who appears fully recovered from the Achilles tear he sustained in December), star running back Jonathan Taylor, receiver Josh Downs, tight end Tyler Warren and newly signed receiver Keenan Allen.
Whether Pierce plays in the season opener and plays his normal allotment of snaps remains to be seen. He was limited to individual drills in Thursday's practice but hopes to rejoin full-team portions next week. That would give him two weeks of full workouts to prepare.
"We have two weeks to get him ramped up," Steichen said. "He's a veteran. He's a pro. I know he's going to handle it the right way. We'll be smart as we ramp him up and get him ready for Week 1."
Pierce had his best season as a pro in 2025, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time. He finished with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 catches.