Alec Pierce Set for Big 2nd-Year with Colts

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had a good-rookie campaign despite the week to week uncertainty at quarterback in 2022.

He finished with 593 yards and two touchdowns last year. That was good for sixth among rookies despite being the 12th wide receiver taken in the draft.

Pierce feels good about the progress he's made from year one to year two.

"I think I've continued to grow my game," said Pierce. "Show I can get open on different levels of the field and make plays on different levels, and then just building chemistry with the quarterbacks."

Pierce and first-round pick Anthony Richardson have been working together since May, and Pierce knows there's been a lot of progress.

"Oh it's way ahead than what it was," Pierce said when talking about the connection he has with Richardson. "I think you've still got a lot of progress to go. But we've got a couple more weeks until the season, and then obviously, it's a long season."

"We can continue to build on that."

Pierce sees the talent Richardson brings and is excited about the different ways he can get the ball. He dropped a pass against the Bills, but he knows the ball may never have found him last year.

"Knowing myself there, I should have made the catch," said Pierce. "I knew my route was not even the best route, but the ball was such a beautiful ball. It was just put in a perfect spot. Just knowing that he can do that even if I don't create the most separation on route, he's just going to be able to put the ball just where I can catch it."

"I've just got to come down with it next time."

Richardson was named the starter by the Colts earlier in the week, and Pierce thinks there's an advantage to naming the starter early in the preseason.

"It's definitely nice to know, especially when you go out here in practice," said Pierce. "We're going to be working with the ones. We're going to be working with the same quarterback every time so you can really know this is the guy I've got to get my timing down with. I've got to get most of my reps with him."

"You definitely work with other quarterbacks too, but it's definitely good to know this is the guy I've got to learn how he throws and get on the same page with him." 

Pierce had nearly 600 yards as a rookie with a merry-go-round at quarterback. Richardson has the arm talent to exploit Pierce's big-play down-field ability.

It could be a very good year for the Colts second-year man.