Colts: What T.Y. Hilton’s injury means for Carson Wentz

With veteran WR T.Y. Hilton out for a number of weeks, how will Colts quarterback Carson Wentz be impacted?

The Indianapolis Colts will be without a notable player into the regular season. According to Stephen Holder of The Athletic, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is expected to miss multiple weeks with a neck injury suffered during practice last Wednesday.

Hilton’s injury is not considered to be season-ending, with the season opener two weeks away he’s going to miss some games. The question is how much time he’ll miss.

Hilton has spent his entire career with the Colts, coming aboard in the same draft as Andrew Luck. He signed a one-year deal to come back to the team this offseason, and continue to be a veteran presence in the wide receiver room.

How T.Y. Hilton’s injury impacts Carson Wentz

Wentz has been working his way back from a foot injury, and there’s a real chance he plays Week1 after an initial 5-12 week timetable wasn’t too optimistic. Upon his recent return to full practice, rapport with Hilton appeared to come easy.

Hilton is far from his prime at this point, but he had a solid 2020 campaign (56 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games). Second-year man Michael Pittman is lined up for a breakout campaign this year, and if healthy Parris Campbell could be a difference maker. Mike Strachan has been a preseason star. But Holder pointed to a different Colts wide receiver who will see an increased role in Hilton’s absence–Zach Pascal.

During his last couple years with the Eagles, Wentz regularly worked with a talent-depleted group of pass catchers that couldn’t withstand a run of injuries. The difference with the Colts is the appearance of better wide receiver depth, so as long as Wentz is healthy himself what looks to be a relatively short-term absence for Hilton is survivable for he and the team.