Colts sign veteran WR Darius Slayton with Alec Pierce expected to be sidelined with injured heel

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts signed veteran receiver Darius Slayton on Tuesday, two days after Alec Pierce hopped off the field with an injured left heel during their 33-30 overtime loss at Kansas City.

Indy (0-2) also put veteran defensive end Michael Clemons on injured reserve.

On Monday, coach Shane Steichen said Pierce aggravated an injury that put him on last week's injury report. Steichen was unsure how much time, if any, the Colts top receiver would miss. NFL Network reported Pierce could miss multiple weeks.

Pierce signed a four-year, $116 million contract in March, a deal that kept him off the free-agent market. He had surgery on his troublesome left ankle shortly after getting the extension and missed all of training camp and the preseason as he rehabbed. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list in late August and had been ramping up his activity over the past several weeks.

In limited action through the first two games, Pierce caught five passes for 72 yards. The former University of Cincinnati star led all of the NFL's qualifying receivers in yards per catch in 2024 and 2025.

The 29-year-old Slayton joins a receiving group now led by Josh Downs and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. Ashton Dulin missed last weekend's game with an ankle injury.

Slayton spent his first seven seasons with the New York Giants after being selected in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. The former Auburn star made 78 starts and appeared in 106 games with the Giants before being released during this year's final cutdown. Slayton had 296 catches, 4,435 yards and 22 TDs with the Giants, including 37 receptions, 538 yards and one TD in 14 games last season.

Clemons joined the Colts as a free agent in March and has been part of the defensive line's regular rotation, but will now miss Indy's next four games after injuring his toe at Kansas City. The Colts (0-2) host Houston (0-2) on Sunday.

Clemons spent his first four seasons with the New York Jets, appearing in 65 games and with 119 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks.

Indy also released running back Anderson Castle from the practice squad.

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