Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be ready for the regular season opener against the Ravens, per ESPN and Yahoo Sports.
The reports say Pierce will play in the Week 1 matchup in Baltimore. The Colts have not released a formal injury designation, but both outlets frame his availability as expected.
For Indianapolis, that means its wide receiver depth chart opens the season intact. Pierce is a downfield target who stretches defenses, and his presence keeps the offense from having to adjust its game plan before it gets tested. Without him, the Colts would have to rely on less proven options and would likely lose a key element of their passing attack.
The opponent matters. Baltimore is the first test of the season, and the Colts need every available weapon against a defense that contests throws and brings pressure. Pierce's size and speed give the offense a different dimension in that matchup.
The specific nature of the injury was not detailed. The reporting is clear on the bottom line: Pierce is on track.
There is a difference between being active and being effective. Pierce will need to prove his timing and burst are back in a live game. But the Colts made it through camp without a major reshuffle at receiver, and having Pierce in the lineup is the best-case scenario for a Week 1 offense still finding its identity.
Expect the Colts to test him early. If Pierce draws defensive attention, it opens space for the rest of the receiving corps. If he doesn't, he will need to produce on his own.
Either way, the Ravens now have to prepare for him. That is a better position than the alternative for Indianapolis.