Colts WR Marcus Johnson’s emergence could be huge after the team eventually moves on from veteran TY Hilton.
It doesn’t please us to come down on a player, but Indianapolis Colts wide receiver TY Hilton has looked like anything but himself through the first six games of 2020. The 30-year-old, who’s in a contract year and has been adamant about wanting to sign an extension with the franchise, has yet to eclipse the 70-yard threshold this season and has somehow managed to haul in fewer than four receptions in four of the team’s six games.
That lack of production is stunning considering how great Hilton has been for the Colts in his underrated career, and it becomes all the more concerning when you remember that it’s coming with the likes of Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and Parris Campbell (knee) sidelined.
Following the signing of Philip Rivers, a gunslinger who, despite his declining arm strength, loves throwing the deep ball more than most quarterbacks in the NFL, massive expectations were placed on Hilton coming into the campaign. Unfortunately for him, his prolonged struggles continued on Sunday.
In a game where Rivers completed 29 passes and totaled 371 yards through the air, Hilton tallied just one reception for 11 yards on five targets. Luckily for the Colts, who needed somebody to step up and help bolster their comeback, Marcus Johnson did just that.
The fourth-year pro had his way with Cincinnati’s secondary in Week 6 and his unexpected emergence could prove to pay huge dividends for Indianapolis after Hilton’s eventual departure, which is likely to come after the 2020 season.
100 yard games by Colts WRs since the start of 2019:
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 20, 2020
Zach Pascal: 2 (22 games)
Marcus Johnson: 2 (11 games)
TY Hilton: 0 (22 games)
Saying MoJo is this team’s WR1 isn’t just because he’s playing great, it’s because there’s nobody else. MoJo is the best performing WR right now https://t.co/yZCMeo7qya
Johnson compiled a team-high five receptions (on eight targets) for 105 yards and it might be time to label him as the Colts’ current No. 1 wideout. That’s not to say that an opposing team’s top cornerback won’t line up against Hilton, but it would be smart for defenses to prepare for what the 26-year-old brings to the table.
For the second straight week, Johnson has seen an increase in snaps and fans can expect that trend to continue when Indianapolis returns from its bye in Week 8. It’s crazy to think, but the Texas product did in one game what Hilton hasn’t been able to do all season: become a game-breaking downfield threat for Rivers to target often.
Had the veteran gunslinger not overshot him on a deep ball, Johnson’s impressive stat line would have looked even more ridiculous. It’s not hyperbolic to say that the former Longhorn had his defender cooked by five yards on the play.
Marcus Johnson was inches away from having a 170 yard 2 TD game on Sunday. He was really really good all game long. May have been the best game from a Colts WR since TY vs the Titans in 2018. He was that good. Bengals had no answer for him down the field. pic.twitter.com/DT6RMRf0DW
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 19, 2020
Want another reason to buy into the Johnson hype? He’s been on the receiving end on three of the Colts’ five longest completions since the start of the 2018 season. Keep in mind that the former undrafted talent has appeared in just 11 games during that span, so he produces whenever he sees the field.
With Hilton continuing to struggle and Pittman and Campbell still shelved with injuries, production is precisely what Indianapolis needs at WR right now. Because of that, we see no reason why Johnson wouldn’t remain a focal point of the offense moving forward.
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