The Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday designated wide receiver T.Y. Hilton for return from injured reserve and auditioned kickers in the aftermath of a brutal loss Monday night.
Hilton was put on IR in early September after undergoing neck surgery and has yet to play this season. The Colts have a three-week window to activate Hilton to the 53-man roster.
“Certainly excited to have T.Y. back in the fold and out on the field,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “Obviously that’s a big, emotional boost to the team.”
The Colts re-signed Hilton in the offseason, but he had been slowed during training camp with the issue. Hilton has 608 catches for 9,360 yards and 50 touchdowns in nine seasons, all with the Colts. He made the Pro Bowl four straight years from 2014-17.
The Colts also worked out kickers Wednesday, including free agents Brett Maher, Mike Badgley, Aldrick Rosas and Riley Patterson, according to the NFL’s official transaction and workout report.
Badgley, 26, who began this season with the Tennessee Titans, was signed to the practice squad. He missed his only field goal attempt (from 46 yards) and one of two PATs in a Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Badgley spent the previous three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Colts blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter in Monday night’s overtime loss at the Baltimore Ravens, in part because kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed an extra point and two field goals, the last of which would have won the game for Indy in the final seconds.
Blankenship is dealing with a hip ailment that affected his kicking and could put him in jeopardy for this week’s game against the visiting Houston Texans (1-4).
Linebacker Jordan Glasgow will also return to practice this week. The Colts (1-4) placed him on IR after Week 2 with a concussion.
–Field Level Media
