Bills running back Nyheim Hines has sustained an injury that may sideline him for the entire upcoming season.
Reports came in early Monday morning that Hines, a running back who was pivotal to the Indianapolis Colts offensive line and acquired by a dominant Bills team, was involved in a freak jet ski accident. He was apparently sitting stationary on a jet ski when another rider struck him. He sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries including a torn ACL. Surgery is being recommended as part of the recovery journey.
Hines was acquired by the Bills last November, mid season, taking a pay cut from a $4.79 million cap hit to $3.5 million, with a million dollar signing bonus across the two year contract, giving him an extra $2 million dollars all in. He was a pivotal acquisition for the Bills but was held to a low number of touches during the 2022 season. Even so, there were flashes of his greatness when he was on the field, including his viability as a kick returner when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Speaking about his lack of field time, Bills GM Brandon Beane said “I think it will be easier in an offseason to get in the whole playbook, get the feel. You kind of install a lot more things than you do in season. So, yeah, I mean, in a perfect world, would have loved to get him more touches and hopefully that will happen next season.”
Unfortunately, this setback leaves an opening at third-down running back in the upcoming season, with wide receiver Khalil Shakur likely to be tapped as the Bills main kick returner.
