INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts will open training camp with two prospective starters on the physically unable to perform list.
Indianapolis placed prized wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) and rookie middle linebacker CJ Allen (calf) on the PUP list on Monday. A player on the PUP list cannot practice with the team until he’s designated to return; the Colts can bring back Pierce or Allen at any time, as long as they’re ready.
The Colts also waived undrafted running back Lincoln Pare with a non-football injury designation. Pare, a Texas State product, was signed shortly after the draft.
Pierce’s inclusion on the PUP list is no surprise. The budding star, who signed a four-year, $114 million contract after a torrid pursuit as one of the most coveted players in free agency, underwent ankle surgery in late March that carried a recovery time of four to six months.
The ankle became a problem late last season, and Pierce initially underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection two days after the 2025 campaign ended in an effort to avoid surgery. When the PRP injection failed to improve the ankle, Pierce opted for the surgery, a procedure the team has described as a “cleanup.”
“We could do it in 11 months, after next season, but they started talking about the risks and stuff, and we just determined that it was smart to take care of it now, with the risk of having a worse injury happen during the season,” Pierce said in June.
Indianapolis sees Pierce as a critical piece of the roster moving forward. When the Colts needed a new player to take Kenny Moore II’s place on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis chose Pierce, who posted 1,003 yards on just 47 catches last season, sparking an offseason bidding war that the Colts won.
Allen’s injury is a surprise.
The rookie middle linebacker is dealing with a calf injury, and although the team does not expect the injury to be long-term, the Colts decided to place Allen on PUP to start the season.
Any significant amount of missed time for Allen could be critical. Unlike Pierce, a veteran who has already spent three years in head coach Shane Steichen’s offense, Allen is a rookie who is expected to start at a critical position in coordinator Lou Anarumo’s complex defense.
No timetable has initially been given for Allen’s return.
But the Colts could use both the rookie middle linebacker and the NFL’s best deep threat back on the field as soon as possible.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts put two starters on PUP to start training camp, Alec Pierce and a surprise
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
