Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is looking to get back on track as he heads into a potentially career-defining year. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Pierce is determined to showcase his abilities on the field and solidify his place within the team. Having no extension in sight, he might be playing his trade somewhere else come 2026. This doubt intensifies his competitive drive to ensure he plays at another level.
Pierce’s journey started long before he made his move to the NFL. In journalism, he became known for whipping the field in column writing. This recognition happened at the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors tournament. He’s a former top-10 winner in explanatory journalism at the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. This accomplishment speaks to Jonathan’s multifaceted skills that go beyond the game of football.
On the field, Pierce has proven this preseason that he’s already an impactful asset to the Colts’ offense. As of now, he is the team’s most expensive player in average salary, at $23.3 million. This financial commitment is an acknowledgement of his previous work but indicative of the high hopes for him coming into this season.
Since the moment he stepped onto an NFL field, Pierce has shown a tremendous ability to anchor an explosive offense. He tops all players with a remarkable 17.6 yards-per-catch average. On top of that, he has a league-high air yards per target average of 16. Notably, one out of every ten receptions in his career has resulted in a touchdown, underscoring his ability to not just catch passes, but to make impactful plays.
Pierce was an explosive deep threat last season, averaging 22.3 yards per catch. He has an elite explosive playmaking ability, evidenced by him having seven catches of 40 yards or more since 2022. This remarkable accomplishment puts him second only to Ja’Marr Chase in that respect. Even dating back to his rookie season, Pierce has been providing big plays. Through three games, he’s established himself as a key weapon to the Colts’ attack.
The Colts use an offense that’s very role-specific for their receivers, so the things Pierce brought to the table became all the more valuable. Coaches fed him the ball on 13.9% of the team’s pass attempts last year! That’s the clearest indication of all that they appreciate what he brings to the field. As salaries continue to skyrocket at the WR position, Pierce’s role is not one that can be overlooked.
Pierce is acutely aware of what’s at stake this season. He’s hell-bent on proving to the world that he can be a triple threat and do all things great on the court. He’s looking to continue to expand his game even further. His goal is to show coaches what he can do outside of what he’s already able to do. That’s why I hone in on a daily practice. “That is the question,” he said. Ultimately, it’s consistent improvement and performance that makes me tick.
In terms of his potential contract situation moving forward, Pierce understands there are a lot of unknowns headed into the 2023 season. But here’s the thing—I have agents for a reason. They just focus on that kind of intel and looking out over the horizon for what’s coming in the near term,” he explained. Though he’s still all in on his current performance, the prospect of off-season negotiations—and possibility of other offers—shimmer in the distance.
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