What should the Dolphins make of Tyreek Hill’s injury?
Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins’ All-Pro receiver, did not practice on Wednesday, most likely due to an ankle injury suffered in the Jets’ wins.
Tyreek Hill has a famous saying that “Cheetah’s don’t get hurt,” but that theory — or mantra — may be put to the test this week because the NFL’s receiving yardage leader missed his second practice of the 2023 season.
Hill, who suffered an ankle injury early in Miami’s 34-13 win over the New York Jets but played on and finished with 102 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions, was likely resting during the first of three practices leading up to Sunday’s road game against the Washington Commanders.
Hill’s level of participation Thursday’s game will provide a better indication of whether the eighth-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowler will play on Sunday.
Hill concentrated on 2,000 yards.
Hill is on a personal quest to become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver based on regular production, breaking the record currently held by Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson, who recorded 1,964 yards on 122 receptions during the 2012 season for the Detroit Lions.
Hill is on pace to receive 2,046 yards this season, but missing one of Miami’s 17 regular-season games could derail that.
However, head coach Mike McDaniel has consistently taken a cautious approach to player injuries in order to save his starters for “elimination games” in the fourth quarter of the season. Choosing to sit Hill against a Commanders team that is struggling defensively may fall under this category.
McDaniel, on the other hand, was probably aware that doing so would shackle the NFL’s top-ranked offense.
Hill became the first player since 1961 to break the 1,000-yard receiving mark in the eighth game of the season this season. He is one of only four NFL players in history to have more than 1,300 receiving yards in the first 11 games of a season.
Hill leads the receiver rankings.
His 1,324 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions lead the NFL, while his 88 catches trail Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, who has 97 catches for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns.
If Hill does not play on Sunday, he will miss his first game since the 2021 season, and Miami will be forced to rely on Jaylen Waddle as the primary target. In the 10 games he’s played this season, Waddle has produced 691 yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions.
Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. would all likely see increased playing time in the passing game.
Miami could also use Chase Claypool, who is recovering from a knee procedure he had during the bye week, and Robbie Chosen, the team’s second-most experienced receiver, who has been on and off the 53-man roster all season. However, roles and playing time will most likely be determined by everyone’s practice performance and the Commanders’ game plan.
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Tua Tagovailoa was joking Wednesday about the nasty gash he received during the Miami Dolphins’ Black Friday game against the New York Jets.
Tua, who was dressed in a long-sleeved hoodie, said he had stitches to close the wound he sustained during a scramble in the first quarter of MetLife Stadium’s 34-13 victory.
“It’s good,” Tua stated. “My wife informed me. She didn’t see it, but she received text messages from people who said it was disgusting while they were eating their (Thanksgiving) leftovers. (laughter) I’m sorry I couldn’t assist you there.
I didn’t realize it had happened until I got to the sideline and Mike White pointed it out. I’m guessing it was just the adrenaline. It was a good sized chunk that fell off. That piece is yours if someone can find it. (laughter)”
Tua said he didn’t know how many stitches he received, but it appeared to be a complicated procedure.
Tua had another remark when asked if he planned to have the full-length tattoo on his right arm retouched.
“I think it’ll be a great story for (son) Ace when he grows up,” Tua went on to say. “I rescued three people in the ocean and was bitten by a shark… (laughter) I killed a 500-pound shark.”
The most recent episode of “Hard Knocks” focused on Jaelan Phillips and his Achilles injury, but it also included a storyline about Phillips’ close relationship with fellow outside linebacker Bradley Chubb.
The two have grown close since Chubb joined the Dolphins in a trade with the Denver Broncos last November, and Chubb admitted that practicing without his bookend buddy was strange.
“Yeah, it was definitely strange,” Chubb admitted. “But it’s now the new normal.” We have to keep moving forward because that is what he would want us to do. Go out there and play like we talked about in the offseason. I’m going to go out there and do what’s best for this team every day, and I know he’ll go to any length to get back.”
Chubb said he’s been in constant contact with Phillips since his injury on Friday, hoping to lift his spirits.
“It’s one of those things where I try to uplift him every chance I get,” he said. “We constantly converse. In any case, that’s my boy. It’s more of a lighthearted conversation than a solemn one. Not right away, but a few days later, he was like, “Man, I’m going to be good.” All I need is for you to be there for me.’ So it’s not more of a ‘Hey man, you’ll be fine.’ It’s more of a routine conversation, and I try to make him feel as normal as possible because, at the end of the day, rehab is a process.
REPORT ON DOLPHINS INJURY
The Miami Dolphins’ first injury report for Week 13 against the Washington Commanders included 17 players, including four who did not practice.
Tua was on the list due to a laceration in his right arm, but he was a full participant.
WR Tyreek Hill (ankle), S Jevon Holland (knees), T Kendall (back), and RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) did not practice.
Twelve more players were listed as limited. These players included RB Chris Brooks, who was cleared to return from injured reserve after more than a month off the field; RB De’Von Achane, who was sidelined due to a knee injury; and T Terron Armstead, who was sidelined due to a quad injury that prevented him from playing in the Jets game.
DB was likewise restricted. OL Robert Hunt (hamstring), FB Alec Ingold (foot/ankle), TE Durham Smythe (ankle), OL Robert Jones (knee), Elijah Campbell (shoulder), Chubb (knee), WR Chase Claypool (knee), LS Blake Ferguson (ankle), and OL Connor Williams (illness).
THIS AND THAT: Gerrid Doaks, a former seventh-round pick of the Dolphins, was cut from the Houston Texans practice squad.
— OTD in Dolphins history: The Miami Dolphins defeated the Chicago Bears 34-3 at the Orange Bowl on November 29, 1971, the team’s first-ever home Monday night game.
— OTD in Dolphins history: On November 29, 1998, Dan Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 400 career touchdown passes with his second of three touchdown passes to O.J. McDuffie.
