Colts: 3 Indy players poised for huge bounce back years

Here are three Colts players who are due for big bounce back seasons.

The abrupt retirement of Andrew Luck just a few weeks before the start of the 2019 regular season was a dagger in the hearts of Indianapolis Colts fans, the majority of which subsequently wrote off the team as a playoff contender.

However, the brilliance of general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich was shortly realized, as the talent on Indianapolis came incredibly close to overcoming the loss of its superstar quarterback. Though the Colts ultimately finished 7-9, they were very much in the thick of the Wild Card race for most of the campaign.

What makes that even more impressive on the heels of Luck’s retirement is that several players — whether it be due to injuries or just a mental obstacle — didn’t perform up to their standards. The arrival of Philip Rivers will undoubtedly boost their chances at wining the AFC South crown for the first time since 2014.

While the 38-year-old quarterback figures to make a huge difference for Indianapolis, the team won’t accomplish much of anything this year if these three players don’t have huge bounce back campaigns.

3. Xavier Rhodes

The only reason Xavier Rhodes doesn’t land higher on this list simply comes down to the fact that wasn’t on the team last year. The 30-year-old cornerback, who signed a one-year deal with the Colts as a free agent this offseason, recently came out and pronounced how thrilled he is to play in Indianapolis’ zone-oriented coverage, and it’s gotten us primed for the comeback.

That should thrill Colts Nation, as Rhodes struggled mightily in man coverage with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. The three-time Pro Bowler was a shell of his former dominant self as he surrendered an abysmal 131 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks while allowing them to complete 83% of their passes while targeting him.

It’s clear that Rhodes will be out to silence his critics — as well as prove the Vikings wrong for releasing him this offseason — this year, and Indianapolis’ zone packages figure to get the best out of him. The ceiling of the Colts defense will be riding on the former first-round pick’s shoulders, and we fully believe he’s ready to carry that burden.

2. Parris Campbell

Fans in Indianapolis were expecting big things out of Parris Campbell last season, and understandably so, as the franchise used a second-round pick on him in the 2019 Draft.

Despite showing flashes of potential, two separate injuries — a hamstring strain and broken foot — unfortunately derailed 23-year-old wide receiver’s rookie season, as he was limited to just seven games (three starts).

However, word out of Colts camp suggests that Campbell is fully healthy and ready to earn the No. 3 wideout spot behind TY Hilton and rookie Michael Pittman Jr. The latest buzz suggests that the Ohio State product will spend the majority of his time in the slot, where he’s clearly the most comfortable.

It goes without saying that Campbell is a player who benefitted from the extended delay of preseason workouts, as he was given extra time to rest up and rebuild his speed and strength. Don’t be surprised if the former Buckeye bursts onto the scene in a big way as an NFL sophomore.

1. TY Hilton

TY Hilton likely gave Colts fans a scare when it was announced that he would begin training camp on the active/non-football injury list with a hamstring strain that he suffered working out on his own this offseason.

The four-time Pro Bowler is entering a contract year, and he’ll need a big season in 2020 to prove that he’s deserving of a lucrative contract. Hilton is fresh off his worst campaign as a pro, as he posted career lows across the board and missed six games due to a calf tear and a hamstring strain.

Whether he signs an extension with Indianapolis is still up for debate, but we vehemently believe that the 30-year-old wide receiver will step up in a big way for the team this year. He’s been too consistent throughout his career to disappoint for the second consecutive season. We’d never pass on the opportunity to bet on odds and talent, especially with a money bag lingering ahead of him.