Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are preparing to carry the team's wide receiver corps for the first time in their careers.
The Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver corps is in transition as they move beyond former top target Michael Pittman Jr., who was traded this offseason.
Alec Pierce, who was given a massive $114 million extension in March, is the Colts' new top receiver, with slot receiver Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren slated to absorb a bigger role and some of Pittman's former responsibilities.
Today, we look at the state of the Colts' wide receivers and what to expect in 2026.
STARTERS
Alec Pierce, Josh Downs
Pierce's evolution to being the Colts' top dog is on a delay as he recovers from March ankle surgery that may keep him out until anywhere from the beginning of training camp in late August into September.
While Colts fans have come to know Pierce as the skilled red-zone weapon and dominant deep threat who's led the NFL in yards per reception the last two years, he's going to begin incorporating more of the mundane and routine receiver work into his repertoire as well. The Colts feel Pierce can be a complete receiver who affects every zone of the field.
Downs will also be stepping into a bigger role. He has been the Colts' slot receiver since 2023, but he'll likely now play the bulk of the snaps at outside receiver in two-receiver sets opposite Pierce.
Warren and whoever wins the Colts' WR3 role (likely Ashton Dulin) will also factor in heavily.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) celebrates a touchdown Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStarBACKUPS
Ashton Dulin
Dulin hasn't officially won the Colts' WR3 spot to this point, but he's the only one listed in the backups section because he's the only receiver behind Pierce and Downs that we can say with certainty will even be on the roster come Week 1.
The Colts will likely carry at least six receivers, but this is the deepest the competition has ever been behind the starters.
The Colts will need to figure out how to balance Dulin's role as a heavily-used, All-Pro level special-teamer with what he does on offense. His normal offensive role is as a rotational player who does a little bit of everything, from blocking, to running end-arounds, to stretching secondaries vertically.
Dec 7, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (13) looks on with Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesDEPTH
Laquon Treadwell, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Deion Burks, Anthony Gould, Coleman Owen, Eli Pancol, E.J. Horton Jr., Sahmir Hagans, Raylen Sharpe
It's anyone's guess how the Colts sort their receiver situation out. Treadwell and Westbrook-Ikhine are a pair of big-bodied outside receivers who also do well on special teams, and should be competing with Dulin for the WR3 role. Burks is just under 5'10" and 180 pounds, but he's also an outside receiver who will be competing with the others for WR3 as well as Gould in the return game. Gould and Owen are the only pure slot receivers the Colts feasibly have behind Downs.
