According to longtime general manager Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had recent ‘clean-up’ surgery on his injured ankle from last season and is expected to be back for team training camp in mid-to-late July (via FOX59/CBS Mike Chappell):

Also, WR Alec Pierce had cleanup surgery on ankle and will be back for training camp. 3-month recovery. https://t.co/eAChdgDNoE

At first earshot, it’s not the first thing that Colts fans ideally would like to hear after Pierce inked a once historic 4-year, $114 million deal (with $84 million in guarantees). However, Ballard and the Colts medical staff do not expect any long-term medical ramifications following Pierce’s routine offseason ankle clean-up surgery.

The 25-year-old wideout is coming off a breakout career season for the Colts in which he recorded 47 receptions for 1,003 total receiving yards and 6 touchdown receptions during 15 games (14 starts)—with his 21.3 yards per reception average leading all NFL wideouts for a second season in a row.

Now, the Colts’ undisputed lead wideout, especially in the wake of veteran Michael Pittman Jr.’s departure, the Colts will call upon Pierce to be more than just an occasional deep threat. To his credit, Pierce has only gotten better every season with the Colts and has continued to be a more well rounded route runner each year in Indy.

That being said, his elite NFL skill is his ability to separate vertically, high point the football, and make acrobatic, highly contested catches. It doesn’t seem as though this surgically repaired ankle should limit that going forward.