Injuries are inevitable in the NFL, and they often are what shape the story of each season. Teams that would otherwise be powerhouses flame out, while good teams that stay healthy tend to make deep playoff pushes. The Pittsburgh Steelers are not immune to this fact, as they are already dealing with multiple injuries at key spots on their roster.
Even the hottest team in the NFL currently, the Indianapolis Colts, finds itself in an injury predicament just three weeks into their season. Star nickel corner Kenny Moore II suffered a calf injury in their 41-20 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans, and he could miss several weeks.
In response, the Colts turned to a familiar name for Steelers fans. Mike Hilton was signed to their practice squad Monday, and he is expected to be elevated to the active roster as early as Week 4.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Hilton looks to replace Kenny Moore II's impact for the Colts
It should be no surprise that the Colts turned to Hilton to replace Moore II. He is intimately familiar with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's scheme thanks to their four seasons together with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hilton was one of Anarumo's most consistent players during his time in Cincinnati, and he undoubtedly will be able to settle in to the slot role for the Colts defense. Moore II is the superior player at this point, but Hilton still performed well in his age-30 season in 2024.
Hilton wasn't able to crack the Miami Dolphins roster this summer, but that seemed more to do with the emergence of rookie Jason Marshall Jr. than his level of play. The former undrafted free agent is still a physical presence in run defense, even if his coverage ability has taken a step back.
Depending on the severity of Moore II's calf injury, he may even still be a contributor on defense when the Steelers face the Colts in Pittsburgh in Week 9. The Steelers are well acquainted with playing their former defensive back, but a strong performance against them may cause some regret about not trying to bring him home this offseason.
Given the injuries to several of their defensive backs this season, it's fair to wonder if he should be back in Pittsburgh instead of Indianapolis. Here's hoping that doesn't look like a mistake by the time that matchup rolls around.