One year after trying free agency for the first time, Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks could have another shot at the market this offseason. Nicks, who turned 27 on Wednesday, is on a one-year deal with Indianapolis.
The bad news? Nicks has set career-lows in catches (38), receiving yards (405) and yards per reception (10.7) in 2014. He’s played just 41-of-148 snaps in the postseason, per NFL statistics.
The good news? Nicks played in all 16 games for the first time in his pro career, and he wasn’t on the injury report with a physical ailment all season.
After his Giants career was marked by a variety of leg injuries, at least Nicks has his health in Indianapolis.
“I think in New York, I was just having injury after injury and I think I just wasn’t taking care of it the right way,” Nicks told reporters Thursday, according to an interview transcript from the NFL. “I just kept trying to play through them instead of being patient and sitting and let it heal.
“Now, I am extremely healthy. Looking back on it now, I think that’s something that I just had to go through. My body was adjusting.”
With his 2014 production off his past standards, Nicks might again be looking at short-term deals in free agency. However, if he can demonstrate he’s healthy, he could be a little more marketable.