Monday morning news broke that the Colts are signing veteran CB Mike Hilton to the Practice Squad, and potentially activate the veteran to the active roster after watching a few practices and getting him
up to speed. The Colts previously worked out Hilton leading up to their Week 1 matchup with the Dolphins, who he was signed with in 2025 prior to roster cut downs.
This reunion from across I-74 brings another weapon for Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo to use, as well as adds another voice to the locker room with a deep understanding of the Colts new scheme. At age 31 and now entering his 10th NFL season, there is little Hilton hasn’t seen. His experience added amongst a Corner room filled with veterans Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II, and Xavien Howard gives a wealth of experience for young players like Jaylon Jones, Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, and Chris Lammons to learn from.
Under Anarumo in Cincinnati, Mike Hilton recorded from 2021-2024:
- 7 Interceptions
- 24 Pass Deflections
- 72.6% Catch Rate Allowed
- 10 TDs Allowed
- 2,265 Yards Allowed
- 93.98 Passer Rating Allowed
- 70.8 Coverage Grade
- 302 Tackles (261 Solo)
- 138 Stops
- 33 Pressures
- 2 Sacks
Anarumo utilized Hilton in a variety of roles with success: as a blitzer, an edge setting run defender, in all of his coverage duties and types. Hilton routinely rewarded that trust with strong play in his versatile assignments.
As Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor once said about Hilton:
He can do it all.
Alongside Kenny Moore II, he has been frequently cited as one of the best nickel Corners in the NFL for over the half decade, where he almost exclusively got his snaps at. However this begs a question:
What Will His Role Be?
Mike Hilton has taken 4,714 career snaps at nickel Corner compared to just 1,139 snaps anywhere else on Defense. It’s clear that is where he is best at, as he has made his career out of that role.
With Kenny Moore II’s calf injured in Week 3 vs the Titans, this means the Colts are anticipating some absence from their star nickel Corner. And just before noon on Monday, NFL Networks’ Ian Rapoport confirmed the recovery timeline for Kenny Moore II’s injury: a couple weeks absence but not a major injury.
While Moore II is out, Hilton will assume nickel duties once more in Lou Anarumo’s Defense. It is still unclear how long exact the veteran Colt will be out for (couple is a bit vague, only implying 2 minimum weeks but could be longer), and when he returns he will be back to his starting spot in short order. Hilton’s role then would shift from being a nickel corner to a dime corner, still lining up inside but on 4 Corner lineups for the Colts to counter when opposing offenses go 4 Wide Receiver personnel.
Expect the Colts to do some shuffling in their Cornerback room amongst their active roster and practice squad leading up to their Week 4 versus the Rams, likely including activating Hilton to help the Colts cover their star Wide Receiver Puka Nacua, who has taken half of his 2025 snaps from the slot. A big test likely awaits for the former Bengal in his game of 2025, and it will be a matchup to keep an eye on.
