With lead wideout Alec Pierce still recovering from off-season ankle surgery, the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver room was beginning to feel concerning. A single injury to Josh Downs (who recently left practice with what was described as an “upper body injury”) could have been catastrophic to the offense’s chance to repeat the success it had during the first half of 2025.
Enter Keenan Allen.
In the weeks leading up to training camp and the preseason, many speculated that Indy could be interested in Allen in the days and weeks leading up to the start of the season. It made sense.
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He needed a team.
The Colts needed a receiver.
Indy has an offensive play caller very familiar with the veteran receiver and more importantly, Allen’s familiarity with Steichen’s offensive system. Specifically, coaching Allen, Steichen served as an offensive assistant for the Chargers from 2014-20, including being their offensive coordinator during his final season in Los Angeles.
Most of the time roster moves this obvious don’t happen for one reason or another, but this ended up being the rare NFL scenario of what seemed like such an obvious solution, actually happening.
Time will tell if this signing will move any needles for an Indy offense that will likely lean hard on second year tight end Tyler Warren, and it’s ground game headed up by Jonathan Taylor, as always. But on paper signing a former six time Pro Bowler who caught 81 passes a season ago, this move though not flashy, could end up being just what the offense needs to continue to grow, evolve and produce the kinds of results everyone in the Colts’ building is hoping for and expecting.
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I have been told that this deal has taken quite a bit of time to hammer out, and it isn’t something the Colts recently decided to do. If that’s true (and I have no reason to believe it isn’t), there’s no reason to panic over Alec Pierce’s ankle or Josh Downs’ recent practice injury. At least not yet.
Stay tuned.
