INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton's season debut was cut short when he left Sunday's game against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter with a right quad injury.
Hilton suffered the injury when he caught a pass underneath about midway through the final quarter. The receiver grabbed the quad before turning upfield and trying to dive for a first down. He remained on the ground while the team's training staff looked at him before he got up on his own to head to the sideline.
"I don't think it's bad," coach Frank Reich said after the Colts' 31-3 win. "I think he caught it -- sometimes when you go and pull a muscle and if you can get off it quick. We're going to have to wait and see how it responds over the next 24 hours. We'll see."
Fellow Colts receiver Parris Campbell also left the game with an injury. Campbell, whose career has been filled with injuries, injured a foot on a 51-yard touchdown reception in the first half.
Hilton, who signed a one-year contract to return to the Colts during the offseason, gave an emotional speech to the team on Saturday morning. He said last week that he thought about retiring after getting injured late in training camp.
Hilton arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium wearing a vintage Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls No. 45 jersey to mark his return after missing the first five weeks of the season with a disk injury. Jordan returned for a second stint with the Bulls wearing the No. 45 jersey several blocks away from Lucas Oil Stadium at the old Market Square Arena against the Indiana Pacers in 1995.
"I came back like Jordan did wearing 4-5," Hilton said. "Little emotional running out the tunnel and hearing those fans. Makes it all worth it. The energy and juice I bring. You see it, they just feed off my energy."
Hilton caught quarterback Carson Wentz's first pass of the game, a 12-yard reception, on the Colts' first offensive snap. The receiver's best play was when he hauled in a 52-yard bomb, bringing a dimension to the offense that it has been lacking. Hilton finished with four receptions for 80 yards before suffering the injury.
"T.Y. played unbelievable," Reich said. "Looking for a spark. I've heard some really good inspirational talks. ... I don't think anybody will ever forget what was said Saturday morning. It was special. Then giving it a way that only T.Y. can do it. Then he came out here and provided a spark, especially early. First play, obviously, we wanted to get it to him early and hit the big play to him. He is our leader. He's one of our key leaders and just love him in every way."