Colts injury updates: Alec Pierce won't be back for Falcons joint practices

WESTFIELD - Following a couple of days of solitary drills, Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce returned to his usual sideline role, remaining within arm's reach of his wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne. However, it's important to note that the Colts are still optimistic about the 26-year-old's recovery from his late-March ankle surgery, which occurred almost five months ago.

Assistant general manager Ed Dodds expressed confidence in Pierce's progress on Sunday, prior to training camp practice just four weeks before the team's regular season opener against the Ravens. Despite receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection after the season, which aimed to prevent the surgery and allowed him to jog lightly after eight days, Pierce ultimately underwent the procedure when the injection failed to alleviate his pain.

Pierce has yet to play with the team, having signed a four-year, $114 million free agent deal in mid-March. The Colts do not anticipate him returning within the next week, a period that includes joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday and Thursday, and their second preseason game against the Ravens on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Several key Colts are still sidelined with injuries, with rookie linebacker CJ Allen, rookie offensive guard Jalen Farmer, and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi recently returning to the field after missing Saturday's game. All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward remains out with back pain, while receiver and return specialist Anthony Gould and offensive tackle Luke Tenuta have missed the last two practices with groin and knee injuries, respectively.

The longest-serving player on the injury report is second-year running back DJ Giddens, who has been sidelined by a nagging hamstring injury since joining the team. With Giddens' return, second-year running back Ulysses Bentley IV has an opportunity to compete for the third spot on the depth chart, where he could showcase his exceptional passing skills.