As more teams continue reporting for training camp, it not only brings excitement to all 32 NFL fanbases. Unfortunately, it also brings some negativity. For the Buffalo Bills, that realization came to a head earlier Monday morning.
Backup running back and special teams stalwart Nyheim Hines is expected to miss the entire 2023-24 season after suffering a knee injury at some point over the offseason.
Thanks to Tom Pelissero, we now have the details on how Hines came into this troubling scenario.
According to reports, Hines was actually injured while on a jet ski. But it’s not quite what it sounds like. Hines reportedly was ‘struck by another rider,’ which caused the serious but non-life-threatening setback.
Hines will need surgery and, as mentioned, will likely miss the entire Bills campaign. Hines has one year left on his contract and is set to earn a base salary of $4.06 million in 2024.
While Hines wasn’t set to take over starting running back duties from James Cook, he was expected to resume his role as a kick and punt returner. The team has since scheduled a workout with free agent running back Darrynton Evans.
In addition to Cook, the Bills also added Damien Harris and Latavius Murray in free agency. Former fifth-round pick Khalil Shakir is likely to receive more opportunities as a returner in Hines’s absence.
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