The Indianapolis Colts have a winning record coming out of the bye week, and they’ve had to most of that winning without seeing typical production from wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.
Though healthy and ready every week, Hilton hasn’t put up the numbers we expected of him when the Colts signed Philip Rivers to be the quarterback in 2020. He is yet to hit 70 receiving yards in a game this season and has been held out of the end zone in six games—though one of his touchdowns did get called back.
Even so, the Colts’ star wideout is confident a breakout game is coming soon.
“I mean both. I mean – if I have a breakout game I feel like we’ll win. I feel like I’m close,” Hilton told the media Thursday. “I’ve just got to play through the calls. Sometimes I get them, sometimes I don’t, but I’ve just got to play through it, create my separation and make it clear for me. I’m ready to go.”
Hilton has been the epitome of a selfless player in 2020. Most wide receivers who are used to dominating like Hilton has in the past would be a squeaky wheel by now. But not Hilton, he simply enjoys the fact that the team is winning.
Of course, Hilton wants to produce at the top tier level he’s used to. But he’s gotten praise for the way he has handled a down start to the season, especially when he’s not as involved sometimes.
Hilton feels like he just needs that one big breakout game to get the ball rolling.
“I mean they’ll come, you just have to be patient. We’re halfway through the season, they haven’t come yet but like I said, all I need is one,” Hilton said. “When one comes, then they’ll start coming in bunches. Until then, I’ve just got to keep working, keep getting better and when the ball comes my way I just have to make a play.”
Hilton has been on both spectrums of the struggle this season. Sometimes (like Week 6), he won’t produce because of a lack of calls or the fact that he’s getting held on nearly every target. There are other times (like Weeks 1 and 2) when the struggles are self-inflicted because of drops.
Regardless, the Colts have to get Hilton going if the offense is going to keep up in the second half. The schedule gets much more difficult with games against the Ravens, Steelers, Titans and Packers.
And even though we haven’t seen a quintessential explosion game from Hilton, the 30-year-old is confident it will come soon.
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