Colts’ T.Y. Hilton: ‘Banged Up or Not, They Can’t Stop Me. Me Healthy — Still Can’t Stop Me’

Indianapolis Colts four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver T.Y. Hilton couldn’t sound more confident about enjoying a bounce-back season.

INDIANAPOLIS — Decked out in a Philip Rivers T-shirt and laughing almost from the beginning, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton exuded an uncharacteristically upbeat mood.

The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is almost always strictly business when speaking to the media. The answers are brief and to the point.

Not on Thursday’s Zoom video call.

Hilton was giddy, an adjective never used to describe him. Why would that be?

He’s excited about starting his ninth season on Sunday, when the Colts visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field (1 p.m., EST, CBS-4). The star receiver who missed six games and put up career-low numbers last season is healthy. He suggested he hasn’t been this healthy since he led the NFL with a career-high 1,448 receiving yards in 2016.

That means Hilton is confident he will be back in Pro Bowl form — the last such honor was 2017 — and he expects to be doing a lot of his signature “T.Y.” hand gestures after scoring touchdowns.

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Don’t be surprised if he and his new quarterback, the 17th-year Rivers, don’t waste any time trying to exploit either rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson or cornerback Tre Herndon.

“I feel great,” Hilton said. “I’m ready to go. I’ve been excited this whole week. I wasn’t able to sleep (Wednesday), wasn’t able to sleep much (Thursday). I’m just excited man – just happy to get back out there with my teammates, have fun.

(This is) the healthiest I’ve been this whole offseason. That is the only thing I’ve been worrying about, just being healthy because a healthy (No.) 13 is a different 13. Banged up or not, they can’t stop me. Me healthy – still can’t stop me. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

So much fun that Hilton shrugged when asked if negotiations on a new contract are on hold for now. He’s entering a contract year and said in an offseason call that his next deal will be the last of his career and he wants to be “a Colt for life.” On his latest call, he says he’s not thinking contract. He’s focused on the upcoming season.

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Colts ninth-year wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is so excited about the upcoming season, he hasn't been able to sleep :: Robert Scheer/USA TODAY Sports

In 118 career regular-season games, Hilton has amassed 552 receptions for 8,598 yards and 45 TDs. In eight playoff games, he’s caught 45 passes for 749 yards and three TDs.

The Colts can’t be blamed for taking a wait-and-see approach on Hilton. He was also hurt in 2018, suffering a high and low ankle sprain to the same ankle. But he missed just two games and played hurt because Hilton has always understood what his presence means to the offense.

General manager Chris Ballard also doesn’t need to be reminded. Since Hilton was drafted in the third round in 2012, the Colts are 1-9 when he has been sidelined by injuries. If a healthy Hilton, who turns 31 in November, puts up Pro Bowl numbers, he’ll get paid, presumably before this season ends.

Hilton expressed confidence before 2019 that it was the most talented the Colts have been since his arrival. After a 5-2 start, his injury was one of many that contributed to losses in seven of nine games.

One of the popular offseason questions has been if Hilton can be the player he once was without quarterback Andrew Luck, who retired last preseason. That the Colts would appear to be more talented and deep on both sides of the ball should work in Hilton’s favor. That and the fact Rivers likes to take shots down the field. They hooked up for a 47-yard touchdown pass in a camp scrimmage at Lucas Oil Stadium. And Rivers hit Hilton in stride.

So Hilton is saying the same thing about the 2020 Colts as he did last year.

“Absolutely, I think this team right here – you’re going to see a different team and it’s going to show on Sunday,” he said. “I can’t wait. I can’t wait. I can’t wait. Tune in. It’s going to be fun.”

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(Phillip B. Wilson has covered the Indianapolis Colts for more than two decades and authored the 2013 book 100 Things Colts Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. He’s on Twitter @pwilson24, on Facebook at @allcoltswithphilb and @100thingscoltsfans, and his email is phillipbwilson24@yahoo.com.)