T.Y. Hilton day to day with knee injury, suffered "zero" structural damage

The Indianapolis Colts received good news on the status of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who was injured during yesterday's loss to the Bills.  After an X-ray yesterday came back negative, Hilton's MRI today also checked out fine and it was confirmed that it's simply a knee bruise.  Head coach Chuck Pagano reiterated that there is "zero" structural damage to the knee and that it's simply a bruise, meaning that Hilton will be day to day.

Of course, that doesn't mean he'll play on Monday night as the Colts take on the New York Jets in their home opener.  With the status of day to day the hope is certainly that Hilton will be back, but it basically just is used by the Colts to emphasize that it's not a serious injury.  "Day to day" really tells us nothing on whether the player will actually play.  For example, running back Vick Ballard was described as day to day last week yet didn't practice once and missed the game.  There's still a chance that Hilton will miss a game or two, but the good news is that it's not a severe injury and he should be fine.

Hilton was injured on a routine play in the third quarter of Sunday's game, as he caught a pass and was tackled.  As he was being tackled, however, his knee hit the ground hard and, according to Hilton, "it didn't feel right."  He got his knee looked at on the sideline by trainers before being taken to the locker room for X-rays, and he ended up back on the sidelines sitting on the bench but with a big wrap on his knee.

The star receiver is a crucial part to what the Colts do offensively, and he showed that again on Sunday by catching 7 passes for 88 yards before leaving with the injury.  With the Bills sending near constant pressure, Andrew Luck looked to his favorite and most familiar target often, and Hilton stood out among a relatively underwhelming group of receivers on Sunday.  Hopefully he'll be back soon, and thankfully his injury is nothing major.

In other injury news, cornerback Greg Toler remains week to week, Pagano said today.  That isn't a great sign for an imminent return, as the "week to week" designation with the Colts means the player will miss some time.  The Colts really need Toler back, as his replacement - Darius Butler - struggled on the outside one Sunday.  Running back Vick Ballard is still day to day, while outside linebacker Robert Mathis will be on the same practice plan this week as he was last week (when he was limited).