The 2026 NFL season inches closer and closer. For the Indianapolis Colts, the first regular-season game arrives on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. With less than a month to go, the Colts may be getting nervous about their wide receiving corps.
Although Alec Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March, he hasn’t been able to practice in training camp while recovering from left ankle surgery. Now, the Colts have responded by adding a six-time Pro Bowler.
Colts Raise Eyebrows After Signing Keenan Allen
The Colts are projected to start Pierce and Josh Downs, but there’s a chance that the former won’t be ready for the start of the year. Behind them are Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, 2024 fifth-round pick Anthony Gould, and seventh-round rookie Deion Burks, to name a few.
Now, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Colts have signed 34-year-old wide receiver Keenan Allen to a one-year contract worth $8.32 million. The move reunites Allen with Colts head coach Shane Steichen after seven seasons together on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Yet, Colts general manager Chris Ballard’s move was not roundly accepted by fans on social media for signing a player who the internet feels is past his prime.
“How does that [expletive] Chris Ballard still have a job?” one fan asked in the aftermath.
A Patriots fan account simply went on to say Allen is “washed.”
Washed https://t.co/rafYYWsapT
— Savage (@Savageboston) August 18, 2026
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While the six-time Pro Bowler’s best form may be behind him, Allen still produced a respectable 777 yards and four touchdowns while starting three of 17 appearances last season with the Chargers.
That prompted one fan to remark, “Surprised Keenan isn’t waiting for an opportunity to ring chase.”
Another commenter took the addition of Allen as a sign that the 25-year-old Downs won’t get as many opportunities as he enters his fourth season. The 2023 third-round pick caught 58 of his 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns last season.
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One reaction suggested that the Colts were essentially mailing it in by bringing in Allen, whom they called “the slowest, oldest WR in the league.”
“Allen can still play! Good get for the Colts!” was another NFL fan’s take on the move.
Allen can still play! Good get for the Colts! https://t.co/Wg9vWbJWtO
— Kaleb Blanton (@thekalebblanton) August 18, 2026
Another kept up the theme of scrutinizing the move, suggesting the Chargers should just reunite with Philip Rivers at this point.
“I mean… just bring back Rivers again at this point!”
I mean… just bring back rivers again at this point!
— Scott Kramer⚡️ (@skramer00) August 18, 2026
Thankfully, Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, and Riley Leonard are all healthy, so coach Steichen won’t have to turn back to Rivers again. As for Allen, he’ll bring 13 seasons of experience, 12,051 receiving yards, and 70 touchdown catches to a largely unproven receiver group.
