Ahead of their clash against Houston Texans, Indianapolis fans have one news to celebrate and one to mourn. The Colts have activated star receiver T.Y. Hilton from injured reserve in time for Sunday’s game but will be without their first-choice kicker Rodrigo Blankenship. 

Blankenship was put on injured reserve on Saturday with a hip injury. He will be out for at least three weeks. Michael Badgley will step in to replace Blankenship after being signed to the practice squad earlier this week.

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Meanwhile, Hilton has been on IR since early September, but he returned to practice Wednesday. The Colts are hoping the four-time Pro Bowler will be able to make his season debut against the division rival Texans.

The former Florida International standout is the franchise’s fourth-leading receiver. In ten seasons, he has 608 catches for 9,360 yards and 50 touchdowns.

In 2018, Badgley was in training camp with the Indianapolis Colts, but he spent the next three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. He began the season with Tennessee, but after the season’s first game, he became a free agent.

Indy also elevated practise squad safety Jordan Lucas to the main roster to bolster a secondary that has been ravaged by injuries.

Meanwhile, five weeks into the season, the Colts are three games under .500 and two games back in the AFC South. On Sunday, Indy is back on its home turf for the first time in four weeks, facing the reeling Texans.

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The Texans, like the Colts, have battled with a variety of ailments.

Davis Mills took over for quarterback Tyrod Taylor in Week 2 and is set to start for the fourth time this weekend. After undergoing surgery on his left thumb, left tackle Laremy Tunsil will be gone for roughly a month. Starting tight end Pharaoh Brown (shoulder) and centre Justin Britt (knee) also missed practise on Wednesday, while starting linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill has a sore hip.