Colts' Alec Pierce on track for the start he targeted all along as Charvarius Ward returns

Two bits of good news came out of Colts camp on Tuesday morning, and both point toward Indianapolis getting healthier at exactly the right time. Receiver Alec Pierce may return to practice later this week, head coach Shane Steichen said — Pierce sat out Tuesday but the arrow points up after offseason ankle surgery. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, meanwhile, was set to return to the practice field today after a back issue kept him sidelined, also per Steichen.

For Pierce, this has always been the plan rather than a bonus. Fowler reported that Week 1 has been the wideout's target throughout his rehab, and Tuesday's update is a meaningful signpost on that road. There is more evidence than just optimism: Steichen noted the team hasn't even had conversations about stashing Pierce on the physically unable to perform list to open the season, which tells you how the Colts expect this to go.

That would be a significant development for an offense that just invested heavily here — Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million deal in March and is coming off the best year of his career, a 47-catch, 1,003-yard, six-touchdown campaign across 15 games in 2025. Getting him and Ward back on the field within the same week keeps Indianapolis on course to open the season close to full strength on both sides of the ball.