INDIANAPOLIS -- T.Y. Hilton didn’t know what to do with himself after leaving Lucas Oil Stadium following the Indianapolis Colts' season finale against the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 3.
There was no reporting to the facility the next day to start playoff preparation. Hilton was at the facility on Jan. 4, but it was to clean out his locker and start his offseason.
That was different from Hilton’s first three seasons.
Two AFC South titles. Three playoff appearances, including reaching the AFC Championship game in 2014. That's what Hilton was used to.
“It hurt because I've never been home after Week 17,” Hilton said. “Watching the playoffs in general and not being able to play really hurt.”
Hilton’s extent of watching the playoffs was seeing how Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and good friend Antonio Brown performed and keeping an eye on the Houston Texans since they represented the AFC South.
That’s it.
Hilton then shifted his focused to working out to make sure he does his part to help the Colts get back to the playoffs.
The early results for the back-to-back Pro Bowl receiver?
Off the charts.
“T.Y. is having as good of an offseason as anybody, probably better than anybody right now,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “There’s a lot of good stuff going on out there. But I’ve never seen anybody practice as fast as he’s practicing right now and compete at the level he’s competing at and leading the way that’s he’s leading. He’s done it day in and day out.”
Hilton finished his fourth season with 69 receptions for 1,124 yards -- his third season with at least 1,000 yards -- and five touchdowns.
But Hilton didn’t feel like he had the type of impact he expected. Quarterback Andrew Luck missed nine games due to injuries and that in turn led to the Colts simplifying their offense by using a lot of quick throws. Hilton is a deep-threat receiver.
"I’m just putting forth the effort to help my team," Hilton said. "Last year didn’t go as planned. Nothing I can do but control what I can control. I’m just trying to get better, better my teammates, continue to work and push those guys."
The frustration of losing and not performing at the level he was used to caught up with Hilton late last season. He surprised many when he questioned the play calling.
“Donte [Moncrief], me, Phil [Phillip Dorsett], we’re fast guys and we’re not going down the field like how we’re supposed to be,” Hilton said in December. “Running stick routes, chain routes; we can do that, but at some point you have to take your shot and get the defense going back. The throws have been there, but we haven’t been calling them.”
Hilton said those comments were directed more at himself. The Colts will get back to using the deep ball under offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who took over in the middle of last season, and because Luck is healthy.
“It wasn’t them. It was more of me not being there, not being able to help my team, doing what I’ve been doing,” said Hilton, who is now the oldest receiver on the Colts roster. “Looking forward to this year … Right now, just doing what I can for us to get better and continue to [be] playing after Week 17.”