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INDIANAPOLIS – Chuck Pagano prides himself on an energetic atmosphere during practice.
So one didn't need eyes to know something was wrong when the Colts indoor practice field fell to a library quiet atmosphere last Wednesday.
T.Y. Hilton was down on the turf, letting out a few groans while reaching down at his right leg.
About 40-50 yards up field, Hilton's teammates watched helplessly.
Some seconds passed before Hilton got up and jogged back towards the huddle.
Teammates came over to check on No. 13 before he returned to the offensive huddle a few plays later.
A collective sigh of relief fell over nearly everyone assembled into the indoor practice facility knowing what Hilton means to this team.
Hilton has decorated the early Colts receiving books with 1,944 receiving yards, the most for any Colts player after two seasons.
"I thought (Hilton) came into his own day one when we walked into this facility," fellow 2012 draftee Coby Fleener says.
"He's been impressive from the get-go. I think the sky's the limit for T.Y. and it's going to be hard to beat his statistics from the past few years just because they're outstanding. He's one of the leaders on this team both on the field and in the locker room."
At Lucas Oil Stadium, Hilton has the ability to turn up the decibel levels a few notches with his big play ability.
On the road, he turns those back down with the same chunk plays.
Hilton's 10 100-yard receiving games in his first two NFL seasons is the second most in league history, since 1960.
While flourishing out of the slot position, Hilton was forced to broaden his game when Reggie Wayne went down last season.
He closed out the 2013 season with 28 catches for 482 over the last three contests.
Hakeem Nicks is getting his first up-close look at Hilton and loves what he's seen.
"His speed, in and out of his breaks, his knowledge of this offense after being in this offense for a year, just his good energy that he brings to this team," Nicks says of what impresses him about Hilton.
"Being in situations like that, guys cause some attention, cause more attention so they open other guys up. This receiver corps is pretty deep. You focus on taking one guy out and another guy can get you do. I think we got a group that you have to play honest."
Wide receivers coach Charlie Williams was one of the Colts who came to check on Hilton last Wednesday.
It was a brief interruption to what is becoming a blossoming young career for Hilton.
"It's fun to watch (Hilton) grow and develop," Williams says.
"He's figuring it out day-by-day and every day he shows us a little bit something different."
