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Here’s what the Colts need to do this off-season to return to the playoffs

By Brandon Daniels

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 03: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Indianapolis Colts walks off the field after being defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-24 during the game at Heinz Field on November 3, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 03: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Indianapolis Colts walks off the field after being defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-24 during the game at Heinz Field on November 3, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 27: T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball after a catch in the game against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 27: T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball after a catch in the game against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2.       The depth issues at wide receiver will be fixed…and the top pass-catchers will take the extra time to get healthy

T.Y. Hilton. Devin Funchess. Parris Campbell. Eric Ebron.

Recognize those names? Those are the names of the Colts’ top four receiving targets, all of whom missed multiple games this season. All but Hilton ended the season on Injured Reserve. As a result, the receiving corps was led by former return specialist Zach Pascal and TE Jack Doyle. Doyle has proven himself as a low-volume receiver but not a workload of a true receiver (which is what the team needed from him as the season progressed). Pascal and Doyle were the only two receivers to play all 16 games this season.

The season showed the Colts need for depth at the position, which will be solved through the draft. This year’s receiving group is among the best to grace the stage of the NFL in a while. 1st round talents like Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb are prime candidates at the 13th pick for the Colts if that is the direction they choose.

However, it isn’t extremely likely that the team targets a receiver in the first round. The Colts caught the injury bug, or for all intents and purposes this past season, the injury virus. It has been one of the worst seasons of injuries for the team in a while, with most of them coming in one position.

Heading into next season, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise to see the receiving corps not too different from last season, apart from a change or two up front. The Colts’ biggest need is still to find a reliable number two receiver opposite of T.Y. Hilton, and it’s likely that the draft will aid in doing so. As the beginning of next season nears, it shouldn’t shock anyone to see some, or most, of the top receivers, limited in practices.

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