Pierce had signed a four-year, $114 million extension earlier in the offseason following the first 1,000-yard season of his career. His injury woes opened a temporary opportunity for Slayton, who was brought in to bolster the receiving corps in the wake of Pierce’s IR stint. Despite the midseason roster move, Slayton did not start in any game for the Colts before his release.
Slayton entered the league as a fifth-round pick for the Giants in 2019 and spent seven seasons with New York. Over that span, he accumulated 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns. However, his production declined over time, and in the 2025 season he posted 538 yards with just one score. He also faced a health challenge this offseason, undergoing core-muscle surgery.
After a disappointing training camp and preseason, the Giants released Slayton. The Colts added him to their roster but did not start him, even with Pierce on injured reserve, as health considerations and roster decisions limited his involvement.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who connected with Slayton for several seasons in New York, was cited as part of the original appeal for adding Slayton to Indy, given their past chemistry. Slayton previously logged 181 receptions for 2,595 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching passes from Jones. In Indianapolis, however, Slayton did not have the opportunity to team up with him again.
When discussing the move, Slayton attributed his lack of playing time to lingering health concerns. “When I signed, I felt ready to go and would be able to participate the first week I signed here,” he explained. “But in practice that week, the coaching staff felt I needed more time, and I don’t disagree with that. It’s been beneficial to have this extra time to acclimate.”
The Colts subsequently ruled Slayton out for Week 5 due to a knee issue, and by Week 6 he was no longer on the roster. It remains to be seen whether any other team will sign Slayton during the season, given his age proximity to 30 and that he is still relatively young at the wide receiver position.
This development marks another pivotal move for the Colts as they navigate injuries and roster depth at wide receiver. The team will likely continue assessing options to ensure depth and production at the position for the remainder of the season.
Note: This rewritten article is a standalone summary of events surrounding the Colts, Darius Slayton, and Alec Pierce, with all essential facts preserved and presented without references to original publishers or external source notes.
