For the second game in a row, Alec Pierce led the Indianapolis Colts in receiving yards in what ended up being a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
In Week 1 against the Houston Texans, Pierce had three receptions for 125 yards with a touchdown. Two of those receptions went for more than 55 yards. This past Sunday in Green Bay, Pierce had seven targets (the most on the team), five receptions (the most on the team), and totaled 56 yards with another score.
One area where the Packers were more effective than the Texans was in taking away the Colts’ downfield pass attempts. Pierce’s longest reception was just 18 yards.
Pierce currently ranks sixth among all NFL receivers in receiving yards through two games. His early season production is a product of what had been a very strong training camp for him–one that GM Chris Ballard called his best to date.
Pierce had bulked up during the offseason, worked on his release packages to help create separation, and wanted to showcase his versatility and that he can impact all levels of the field and not only be a deep threat. Most importantly, he’s just been more consistent.
Overall, however, the Colts passing game is struggling to find any sort of steady presence. Outside of the three big plays in Week 1, the offense has struggled to sustain drives in the early going of the season.
Michael Pittman has had an up and down start, rookie AD Mitchell and Anthony Richardson just have not been on the same page, while the offense very much misses Josh Down’s presence in the slot.
Finding more consistency for the offense will require Pierce to continue on this trajectory, but the offense as a whole needs additional pass game production from elsewhere.