INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts are calling on yet another link to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's past, as they are reportedly signing free-agent cornerback Mike Hilton to their practice squad. Anarumo and Hilton were together with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2021 to 2024.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report were the first on the news.
The Colts hosted and put Hilton through a workout in late August while their cornerback room was dealing with a bout of injuries. While the room's health did improve, starting slot cornerback Kenny Moore II did leave Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans with a calf injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Moore is expected to miss "a couple of weeks," although it is not a major injury.
Hilton (5'9", 184, 31 years old) has spent the vast majority of his career in the slot, seeing 5,632 snaps in the box or slot and 231 on the boundary or at free safety, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hilton came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016, signing originally with the Jacksonville Jaguars before moving on to the New England Patriots (2016) and then finding his most success with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2016-20) and Bengals (2021-24). Hilton signed briefly with the Miami Dolphins this offseason but was released a month later.
While under Anarumo's coaching, Hilton was known as one of the most productive pass-rushing defensive backs in the NFL, notching 34 quarterback pressures in their time together, and Hilton ranking first and second, respectively, in the NFL among defensive backs in his first two years in Cincinnati.
In 123 career games (56 starts), Hilton has 520 tackles (66 for loss), 11.5 sacks, 32 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, six fumbles recovered, 13 interceptions, 56 pass breakups, and one defensive touchdown
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.