Alec Pierce’s Decline Forces Colts To Promote Rookie Receiver Due To His Own Regression

Indianapolis, Indiana – November 19, 2025

The Indianapolis Colts entered the season believing they had stability at wide receiver. Alec Pierce, now in his third NFL year, was expected to solidify his role as a starting outside threat alongside Michael Pittman Jr. Instead, midway through the 2025 campaign, Pierce’s decline has forced a major shift in Indianapolis’ offensive approach. A rookie receiver is now earning meaningful snaps at Pierce’s expense as the coaching staff reevaluates the position.

Pierce’s drop in usage has been troubling. After opening the season with consistent involvement, his snap counts have steadily fallen. Over Weeks 9 through 11, Pierce struggled to separate from defenders, mistimed routes with Anthony Richardson and failed to convert on contested catch opportunities. He recorded just two total receptions during that stretch. In Week 11, he was removed from multiple crucial late game situations. These are not the metrics of a reliable starting receiver. They reflect a player who has lost the trust of the staff.

Route inconsistencies, communication issues and stalled drives tied directly to missed opportunities have all contributed to Pierce’s shrinking role.

Speaking privately with reporters, Pierce addressed his slump with honesty. “I am not running from what has happened. I owe it to the Colts to be better. I owe it to myself. If someone is performing at a higher level right now, then he should be on the field. This team believed in me from day one, and I am not letting a rough stretch define who I am or what I will become here.”

The rookie benefitting from the shift is Anthony Gould, who arrived in Indianapolis expected to contribute mainly on special teams. Instead, his route sharpness, acceleration and discipline have stood out in recent weeks. Coaches have steadily increased his practice reps, and Gould has shown poise and timing in live snaps that have impressed the staff. His energy and precision have filled gaps in an offense struggling for explosive perimeter play.

This development comes at a critical moment for the Colts. With playoff margins tightening and Anthony Richardson progressing rapidly, Indianapolis cannot afford inconsistency at wide receiver. The organization expected Pierce to cement his long term place in the offense. Instead, his regression and the rookie’s emergence have created broader questions about the future structure of the receiving corps.

For now, the depth chart is shifting, and not in the direction most predicted. Pierce still has time to bounce back, but the Colts cannot allow instability during a pivotal stretch of the season. Production has become the defining factor, and right now, the rookie is providing more of it than the player he was drafted to complement.