Steichen defends Colts' handling of Pierce's injury as WR head to IR

The Indianapolis Colts are placing wide receiver Alec Pierce on injured reserve, giving him time to rehab his heel injury, coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday.

Sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport earlier this week that Pierce is expected to miss several weeks after aggravating his heel injury.

By being placed on IR, Pierce is sidelined for at least the next four games. Sources told Rapoport that surgery is still on the table for Pierce but that depends on the success of his rehab efforts.

The injury is to the same heel that Pierce had surgically repaired in March. His recovery from that procedure stretched longer than expected, with him missing training camp and returning to practice only last month.

Pierce, who signed a four-year, $114 million contract in March, was expected to be a centerpiece of the Colts' offense this season. Already thin at wide receiver because of veteran backup Ashton Dulin's ankle injury, the Colts signed veteran receiver Darius Slayton this week.

Steichen said Slayton will practice Wednesday and it hasn't been ruled out that he could make his debut Sunday against the Houston Texans.