INDIANAPOLIS – Normalcy has returned for Alec Pierce.
And the Indianapolis Colts’ offense.
Pierce, one of the NFL’s premier deep threats, has been cleared from the league’s concussion protocol and will return for Sunday’s meeting with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s missed the past two games after suffering a concussion in the week 3 victory at Tennessee.
“Every day just feel more normal,’’ Pierce said Friday. “That’s the big thing. They want you to get back to feeling normal and not feeling like your head’s in the clouds.
“It took me a couple of extra days this time than in the past.’’
The concussion is the third of Pierce’s career and second in the past nine months. He missed one game after the two previous concussions but required more rehab time on this occasion.
After missing the week 4 game at the Los Angeles Rams, Pierce practiced the following Wednesday and Thursday. But he still experienced symptoms, didn’t practice Friday and wasn’t cleared to play against Las Vegas.
“Just didn’t feel right,’’ he said. “Just wasn’t able to make it to the game. You put the work in and we always say Sunday is the payday, right? You really get paid to do the work during the week. The weekend in kind of like the celebration.
“It was tough. I just wasn’t able to make it after those practices.’’
The extra time allowed Pierce to fully recover. He said his concussion rehab included “a lot of alternative rehab stuff.’’ Some of those involved working crossword puzzles and mazes.
“Just working on my brain, focus,’’ Pierce said.
His return adds another legitimate threat to an offense that ranks No. 4 in the league in yards per game (381.2) and No. 2 in scoring (32.6). The 163 points are the second-most in the first five games of a season in the Indy era – the 2007 Colts scored 164 – and Indy leads the NFL with a plus-74 point differential.
Ashton Dulin handled Pierce’s role against the Raiders and finished with two catches for 55 yards on five targets. The special teams standout was on the field for a career-high 47 offensive snaps. Dulin also had 10 special teams snaps, including one that saw his 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown negated by a holding penalty.
“It was really cool to see him step up and make those plays,’’ Pierce said.
Now, Pierce has an opportunity to contribute. In three games, he has nine catches for 171 yards.
Pierce averaged a league-best 22.3 yards per catch in 2024, and he’s back at it. His 19.0 clip ranks 3rd among receivers with at least nine catches. He trails only Kansas City’s Tyquan Thornton (20.9) and Detroit’s Jameson Williams (20.3).
“Obviously gives us the explosive play ability down the field which he’s been doing his whole career,’’ Shane Steichen sad. “But also, just the threat of him running deep. He’s running intermediate routes and doing that well also.
“It opens up a lot of different things to have that guy on the outside along with the other guys . . . Pitt and Downs and obviously Tyler Warren doing what he does.’’
In his limited availability, Pierce has 36- and 44-yard receptions.
What about Mitchell?
Pierce’s return clouds things for AD Mitchell.
He filled in for Pierce in the week 4 loss at Los Angeles, but essentially was benched for last Sunday’s win over Las Vegas because of major mistakes against the Rams that cost the Colts two touchdowns. Dulin was elevated to the No. 3 wideout behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs for the 40-6 blowout of the Raiders. Mitchell was on the field for the final six offensive plays when many front-line players already had been taken out of the game.
With Pierce back, Dulin probably slips to the No. 4 wideout. That might leave Mitchell out of the rotation entirely. He does not participate on special teams.
“We’re working through that right now. We’ll see,’’ Steichen said.
Moore, Goodson ruled out
As expected, Steichen ruled cornerback Kenny Moore II (Achilles) and running back Tyler Goodson (groin) out of Sunday’s game.
Moore will miss a third straight game.
“He’s making great progress, I’ll say that,’’ Steichen said. “Hopefully sooner than later.’’
Murray update
It remains uncertain which quarterback the Colts will face Sunday, but Kyler Murray’s arrow might be pointing up.
The Cardinals’ catalyst was a limited participant in Friday’s practice after missing the previous two days with a foot injury. He’s listed questionable for the game.
Murray’s availability for Sunday likely hinges on how his injured foot responded to Friday’s limited workload.
“We were preparing for (Murray), then obviously gotta adjust if Jacoby’s out there,’’ Steichen said. “Got a lot of respect for both of those guys.’’
The Colts have extensive knowledge of Brissett’s skillset.
General manager Chris Ballard acquired him in a Sept. 2, 2017 trade with New England when it became apparent Andrew Luck would miss extended time with an injury to his right shoulder.
Brissett started 15 games that season and 30 during his four seasons in Indy.
Since leaving the Colts after 2020, Brissett has been a travelin’ man: with Miami in 2021, Cleveland in ’22, Washington in ’23, New England in ’24 and Arizona this season.
He’s 19-34 as a starter with 11,400 yards, 53 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
“Well, he’s a true pro,’’ Arizona coach John Gannon said of Brissett. “I know that term gets thrown around, but when you’re in his seat, all our guys, but the quarterback position’s the hardest position in sports. To know that you’re one play away from your role changing, you really do have to be on the details.’’
Brissett started against the Colts in 2021 when he was with the Dolphins. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 199 yards with two TDs in a 27-17 Indy victory.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.