The Indianapolis Colts elevated veteran wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the practice squad Saturday, adding another option as they try to replace Alec Pierce against the Houston Texans.
Pierce landed on injured reserve after aggravating a surgically repaired heel during last week’s overtime loss at Kansas City. The move means he will miss at least four games. The Colts also signed Anthony Gould from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Westbrook-Ikhine, a former Indiana University standout, had not been elevated this season. The Colts can only do so three times for a practice-squad player, so the decision indicates they expect him to play a role Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis is 0-2 and seeking its first win of 2026. Houston is also 0-2. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.
The Colts signed Darius Slayton earlier in the week to help fill the deep-threat role Pierce had occupied. Slayton spent his first seven NFL seasons with the New York Giants and caught 200 passes from current Colts quarterback Daniel Jones.
Coach Shane Steichen said Slayton “did some good things” in practice this week but noted the receiver is still getting up to speed after three weeks away from game action.
Josh Downs is expected to remain the primary target from the slot. Veteran Keenan Allen should also see a heavy workload. Laquon Treadwell and seventh-round rookie Deion Burks are other options. Ashton Dulin is out with an ankle injury.
Westbrook-Ikhine spent five seasons with the Tennessee Titans before a 2025 stint with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 32 passes for 497 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 2024. Last year in Miami he had 11 receptions for 89 yards and no scores in 15 games.
He has faced the Colts more than any other opponent. In 11 games against Indianapolis while with Tennessee, he recorded 12 catches for 139 yards and four touchdowns.
Westbrook-Ikhine signed with the Colts in March after Miami released him. He was waived at the end of training camp and returned to the practice squad.
“It’s kind of a hometown team, got a bunch of family (here),” Westbrook-Ikhine said after signing. “I’d drive by the facility every time I’d come visit (his wife’s) family in the offseason, even when I was in Tennessee. So, a lot to play for – just added another son to the mix. So yeah, I’m excited to be here.”
The Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. in the offseason and signed Pierce to a four-year, $114 million contract. Pierce led the NFL in yards per catch the past two seasons and topped 1,000 receiving yards in 2025.
Without Pierce’s speed, Indianapolis will need contributions from several receivers to stretch the field and create space for Downs, tight end Tyler Warren and running back Jonathan Taylor.
Westbrook-Ikhine is 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds. He arrived in the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has 137 career receptions for 1,862 yards and 19 touchdowns through six seasons.
How much he plays Sunday remains to be seen. The Colts would not use one of his limited elevations without a plan for him to contribute.
Indianapolis released its unofficial depth chart earlier in the week listing Pierce, Treadwell and Slayton on one side, Downs in the slot, and Allen, Dulin and Burks on the other.
The Texans present a stout defense. Both clubs enter the matchup looking to avoid an 0-3 start.
The Colts hope the combination of Slayton’s familiarity with Jones and Westbrook-Ikhine’s local ties and experience against the division can help stabilize a passing game that lost its top vertical threat.
Pierce is rehabbing rather than undergoing another procedure. There is no firm timetable for his return beyond the mandatory four-game IR minimum.
For now, the Colts will mix and match with the receivers they have available.
