Aug. 12: Hilton has been removed from the active/NFI list and is ready to go, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club activated WR Malik Henry from the reserve/COVID-19 list and waived him.
Aug. 10: Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton says he is almost healed from a hamstring injury and days away from being able to return to the field. Hilton also told reporters that there hasn’t been much momentum in his contract talks as he enters his walk year (Twitter link via Stephen Holder of The Athletic). 
As it stands, Hilton has one year to go on his deal, which carries a $14.5MM cap hit. An extension would give Hilton extra security on what he says will be his last NFL contract, regardless of length. Still, teams have been reluctant to fork over guaranteed dollars, and Hilton’s age complicates matters further. As it stands, his deal ranks 16th among wide receivers in per-year average.
Hilton has performed as one of the league’s most dangerous deep threats when healthy – from 2013 through 2018, he’s averaged 16 yards per grab. Last year, his calf limited him to just ten games, leaving him with a final stat line of 45 catches, 501 yards, and five touchdowns. This year, he’ll look to get back to his old form as he builds a rapport with new quarterback Philip Rivers. He may have a stronger case for a new deal next year if he can reprise his 2018 showing. In that season, Hilton finished out with 76 catches for 1,270 yards and six TDs.
‘Still, teams have been reluctant to fork over guaranteed dollars…’
I’m sorry, but have you been paying attention to contracts this offseason?
Jimmy Grahm, Erik Flowers, Vic Beasley, Kirk Cousins, Phillip Rivers, Bryon Jones & of course, Mr. half billion dollar man, P Mahomes.
Those contracts, along with plenty more, show how little the owners are worried about COVID.
It’s mostly funny money
You’re right, but the players signed the contracts. All agents have FA’s next offseason!
Why would the owners be worried about Covid? They’re not the ones playing.
Hilton’s age and the Colts’ uncertainty at QB beyond this season makes a large sum of guaranteed money iffy, but that also partially could help the likelihood of the Colts re-signing him. Right now, it’d be harder for Hilton to demand top of the line money for an under year and as an older WR. If the Colts wait until the end of this year, Hilton will likely demand more, especially if he has a bigger year than last year (which seems very possible considering the likelihood of better QB play). Given that Indy will probably select a new QB, the team will have to consider whether or not having a veteran wideout with deep ball ability is valuable enough to young quarterback to pay Hilton that money. If it is, I think doing an extension before the end of the season would benefit them most money-wise.
You’re absolutely right. The Colts could lock up Hilton with a very team-friendly deal by extending him on a down year. They’d be foolish to let him post elite statistics in 2020 and gain the leverage once negotiations roll around. Hilton’s a very dangerous weapon when healthy and always puts forth his best effort regardless of the situation. He kind of reminds me of Fitzgerald in some aspects
Woo-hoo, aced it! Agreed, my friend.
You’re absolutely right from the Colts side of this. And he is on record as saying he wants to retire as a Colt. But your justification only takes a couple of tweaks to make a compelling case for why it hasn’t happened.
Hilton would be locked up with a very team-friendly deal by extending after a down year. He’d be foolish to not try to reestablish his value to his baseline statistics in 2020 and regain the leverage once negotiations roll around (which almost every person expects to happen). Hilton’s a very dangerous weapon when healthy and always puts forth his best effort regardless of the situation. He kind of reminds me of Fitzgerald in some aspect, because he was quickly written off due to an injury and age, but proceeded to have multiple productive years as a WR1 after he got healthy.
So yes, there is mutual interest, but that doesn’t make the financials a throwaway.
Wow. That was an improvement from my original reply. Good insight
You got it dude. Have a swell day.
When his playing days are over T.Y. plans to get into the hotel business….
Wow that’s so funny I forgot to laugh
Still better than your comment