Here’s why the Colts are actually better off when wide receiver TY Hilton doesn’t play this season.
It’s our job to objectively critique the Indianapolis Colts on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis, so the sheer number of flaws we’ve harped on throughout the season, from Philip Rivers’ turnovers to the struggles of the running game and slow starts from the defense, might make it seem like we aren’t satisfied with the job head coach Frank Reich as done so far.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Through seven games, Indianapolis is tied with Tennessee for the AFC South lead, so fans have every reason to feel optimistic about the team’s outlook for the rest of the campaign.
However, even amid this promising start, there is one player who we can’t help but express negativity towards, and that is wide receiver TY Hilton. The 30-year-old star has been a shell of his prime self this season, and his nosedive in production has proven that the Colts are actually better off without him.
However, per @zkeefer there is no sign of WR TY Hilton at practice today. Hilton has missed practice all week with a groin injury
— Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) November 6, 2020
Hilton is looking doubtful to suit up for the Colts’ matchup with Baltimore on Sunday with a groin injury he suffered last weekend vs Detroit. At this point in the season, fans in Indianapolis shouldn’t even bat an eyelash reading that update because he’s been so non-existent that he might as well have not even been playing.
The four-time Pro Bowler has just three receptions for 20 yards over his last two contests and has somehow logged four games with less than 30 receiving yards. For context, Hilton had three such games for the entirety of 2019.
What’s even more alarming? The fact that Indianapolis has lost both games in which he managed to produce respectable numbers. Back in Week 1, Hilton compiled four receptions for 53 yards on nine targets in a loss to Jacksonville. Fast forward to Week 5 against Cleveland, and he racked up six receptions for 69 yards on 10 targets in an ugly defeat vs the Browns.
Colts veteran TY Hilton: "Feeling good, doing a lot better actually. We'll see."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) November 5, 2020
Working through the groin injury. Hopeful to play Sunday vs. Baltimore.
It can’t just be a coincidence that the Colts have lost both games in which Hilton received his greatest target share of the season, right? That fixture against Cleveland is ironically regarded as Philip Rivers’ worst game of the year by a wide margin. The following week, the veteran gunslinger absolutely carved up Cincinnati in a vintage performance, finishing 29-of-44 for 371 yards and three touchdowns compared to one interception.
Care to guess what numbers Hilton finished with? One reception for 11 yards on five targets. This isn’t an indictment against the former third-round pick, who’s been an incredibly dependable servant over his nine-year tenure with the Colts.
However, it speaks volumes to his mystifying drop-off that Indianapolis’ offense has looked better when he isn’t featured in the passing game. If that doesn’t prove that the team is better off without him for the rest of the season, then nothing will.
And likely next season, too.
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