Tyreek Hill has a chance to make NFL history this year, but the only one stopping him may be himself.
The Dolphins take on the Jets on Sunday, but Mike McDaniels’ team will be without its top wide receiver. Hill is dealing with an injured ankle he suffered last week that has lingered.
Hill has been sensational in his second season on South Beach. The Miami standout is on track to hit 2,000 receiving yards in a single season, something that has only happened once in NFL history.
MORE: NFL Week 15 coverage map: Full TV schedule for CBS, Fox regional broadcasts
The Dolphins enter Week 15 atop the AFC East with a record of 9-4. Miami currently holds the No. 2 seed in the conference, but is coming off a disappointing “Monday Night Football” loss to Tennessee last week.
Here are the latest updates on Hill’s status vs. the Jets.
Is Tyreek Hill playing today vs. Jets?
The Dolphins gave Hill as long as they possibly could to determine whether he would be able to go, having him test out his ankle before Sunday’s game.
Reports Sunday morning were optimistic about his status, but the Dolphins ultimately ruled him out.
Hill arrived at the facility early in the morning with no noticeable limp in his step, however, the concern is not his straight-line running, but rather stopping and making cuts.
Tyreek Hill even walks fast. No noticeable limp — which is to be expected. Straight-line speed isn’t as much of an issue, I’m told, as his ability to make cuts. Pregame warmup to determine his status is coming shortly. pic.twitter.com/hISvyXHVZr
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 17, 2023
Tyreek Hill ran about 5-6 routes in pregame workout. He was definitely deliberate in checking out how much he could cut on his injured ankle. But it’s not heavily taped. And for the last 10 minutes, he’s been just playing catch.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 17, 2023
Tyreek Hill injury update
Hill was injured in Week 14 during Miami’s “Monday Night Football” loss to Tennessee last week.
The ankle was injured early in Monday night’s contest after Hill was tackled by Titans DB Sean Murphy-Bunting along the sideline early in Monday night’s game.
Hill was able to limp away from the play and ended up jogging over to his sidelines, however he did not immediately go back into the action. He was ruled “questionable” to return, but did eventually make his way back onto the gridiron in the second half.
Fans here at Hard Rock Stadium chanted MVP as Tyreek Hill walked to sideline after hurting ankle pulled down by Titans CB Sean Murphy Bunting. Hill ran off & hyped crowd up waving his hands when he heard it.
Hill’s famous line: Cheetahs don’t get hurt: pic.twitter.com/TQYIGQZUVz
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 12, 2023
After the game, Hill told reporters that his return was not necessarily due to the ankle feeling better, but it was “adrenaline” and a text from his wife.
“When it happened, like my first reaction was like, man, my ankle is gone,” Hill said. “My adrenaline kicked in, I ran off the field, then I sat for a while and it got stiff and I was going through a lot of pain. Then I just made up in my mind, I came in at halftime, I texted my wife, I was like, ‘This s— hurt.’ I need an ankle massage tonight, and she’s like, ‘You’d better get your ass back in that game, dawg.’ I was like, ‘All right.’
“So I just made up my mind that it’s going to hurt. It’s going to suck. Tonight and tomorrow morning. I just went back in the game on my own, without anybody saying, ‘Reek, go.’ It was like, no, f— this, I’ve got to get out there and bring some energy and be that spark.”
How close is Tyreek Hill to 2,000 yards?
Hill is on pace to hit the 2,000 receiving yards threshold in 2023. He would be the first wide receiver ever to reach that mark in a single season, as Calvin Johnson holds the NFL record with 1,964 yards for the Lions in 2012. Johnson did it in 16 games, and Cooper Kupp has come the closest since then with 1,947 yards for the Rams in 17 games in 2021.
Heading into Week 15, Hill is at 1,542 yards. He needs 458 yards to hit the milestone, and with just three games remaining to do it, he’ll need to average nearly 153 yards per game to hit 2,000.
Even with Hill’s crazy pace, missing Week 15 greatly decreases his chance at hitting the milestone.
