Colts receiver ejected after hitting 1,000-yard milestone in season finale against Texans

Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce reached a immense NFL milestone successful the team’s play finale connected Sunday, but the fourth-year seasoned was incapable to decorativeness retired the crippled aft helium was ejected precocious successful the 3rd 4th for making interaction with an authoritative implicit a disputed call. 

Pierce, 25, finished with 4 receptions for a season-high 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, surpassing 1,000 yards receiving successful the process. He besides ended the regular play starring the NFL with 21.3 yards per reception for the 2nd consecutive year.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) reacts aft catching a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the archetypal fractional astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston, Texas, connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)

But celebrations were dampened by Pierce’s archetypal NFL ejection. 

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"Just knowing that this is my past game, wasn’t the mode I wanted to finish. It was an abrupt ending to the play present and stuff. I wanted to beryllium retired determination and decorativeness it with my brothers today," Pierce told reporters aft the team’s 38-30 nonaccomplishment to the Houston Texans.

Pierce was ejected aft a third-and-goal play from the six-yard line. He pleaded his lawsuit to an authoritative aft believing that Texans cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram should person been called for walk interference. 

In warring for a flag, Pierce drew 1 himself aft making interaction with the referee. 

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) questions a telephone during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Houston Texans successful Houston, Texas, connected Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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"I thought it was walk interference truthful I was conscionable talking to him astir that and past I conjecture I bumped him," the prima receiver explained. 

Pierce said helium tried to apologize to the ref, and clarify that it was not a "malicious act."

"I conscionable wanted to fto him cognize I wasn’t trying to enactment hands connected him oregon anything."

Indianapolis Colts caput manager Shane Steichen walks with Alec Pierce (14) aft Pierce was ejected for making interaction with an authoritative during the 3rd 4th of a crippled against the Houston Texans astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston, Texas, connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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Despite missing the playoffs and failing to decorativeness retired the game, Pierce said helium was blessed to scope his archetypal 1,000-yard season.

"It’s a immense milestone. I deliberation it's a extremity of each receiver successful the NFL. It’s a notable milestone. Obviously the play didn’t extremity however we wanted and would overmuch alternatively beryllium successful the playoffs, but instrumentality what we tin get." 

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