Colts: TY Hilton could help Indy make history in 2021
By Jerry Trotta
It’s not a stretch to say that the Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiving corps might be the weakest part of their offense next season. While that notion might seem harsh, it makes sense given they lack a premium No. 1 option.
Why do so many analysts feel that way? Well, for starters, TY Hilton was a virtual no show for the first several weeks of 2020, indicating he may no longer be capable of carrying the workload of a top wideout on a playoff-ready squad.
In any event, the Colts will need Hilton to be at his very best next campaign after they re-signed him to a one-year deal this offseason, and they’ll be hoping having a more dynamic quarterback under center in Carson Wentz will help his renaissance.
Luckily for Indy, not only will Hilton be pursuing a career milestone in 2021, but he could help the franchise set a bit of history in the process, too.
Per Colts.com, if Hilton logs 640 or more receiving yards next season, Indy will become the first franchise in NFL history to have three players total 10,000-plus receiving yards. The other two? Marvin Harrison (14,580 yards) and Reggie Wayne (14,345 yards), of course.
No team has ever had three receivers hit the 10,000-yard milestone.@TYHilton13 could change that. 👻
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 11, 2021
Will TY Hilton help the Colts make history in 2021?
Hilton caught a lot of criticism amid his lengthy disappearing act last year, and understandably so, but him being in position to become a part of Colts history is just a testament to how consistent he’s been throughout his career.
There was certainly a time when you believed he wouldn’t be extended, right? Admit it…
To put this all into perspective, Hilton has five seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards, making him one of just 55 players in NFL history to do so.
Among active players, Hilton trails only Larry Fitzgerald (nine), Julio Jones (seven), Mike Evans (seven), Antonio Brown (seven), DeAndre Hopkins (six) and AJ Green (six) on the 1,000-yard leaderboard. Those are some of the best receivers of the last decade or so, but you’ll almost NEVER see Hilton mentioned in the same tier as those guys.
Perhaps more impressive, however, is how Hilton has made big plays look commonplace over the last nine years. According to Pro Football Reference, Hilton is one of 15 wide receivers in league history to average 15 or more yards per catch (15.4) with at least 600 receptions (608).
Moral of the story? Though criticism of Hilton last season was justified, don’t let that distract you from the fact he’s one of the most dynamic wideouts of his generation…and, of course, root like heck for him to help the Colts make some deserved history in 2021.
