This season, a few receivers grabbed center stage in the middle of the quarterback-dominated success tale, and Tyreek Hill emerged as a hero in the Miami Dolphins’ story. Acknowledged for his exceptional receiving skills, Hill garnered endorsements from notable figures like DeAndre Hopkins and Micah Parsons, positioning him as a strong contender for this season’s MVP title.
Injuries derailed Hill’s bid to break a record for receiving yards by the Dolphins, despite his outstanding effort on the field. This setback not only added to the challenges he faced but also jeopardized one of his cherished dreams of securing a significant record.
Tyreek Hill’s single missed game alters pursuit of NFL receiving yards record
With a clear path toward breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving yards record, Tyreek Hill entered the final stretch of the NFL season. Nevertheless, a missed game has thrown a curveball into Hill’s pursuit, putting him in a challenging position to surpass Johnson’s mark of 1,964 yards set in 2012.
Currently leading the league with 1,641 yards, Hill is tantalizingly close to his personal best, just 70 yards away. Yet, to shatter the record, he needs two exceptional performances in the final two weeks, requiring 324 yards to surpass Johnson and an ambitious 359 yards to become the first receiver to exceed 2,000 yards in a single season, per SPUN.
While gaining 324 yards in two games is within the realm of possibility, it’s a feat Hill has accomplished only once this season, accumulating 344 yards over Weeks Five and Six. Back in July, despite expressing his goal of reaching 2,000 receiving yards before the season, the 29-year-old acknowledged the uphill battle, stating on his podcast, ‘It Needed to be Said,’ with firm determination to clinch even his second Super Bowl.
“I will break 2,000 yards next year, bro. Two thousand yards was on my bucket list to get before I leave this league…2,000 yards and another Super Bowl. We getting that. Believe that.”
Now that Hill’s mission has been difficult due to missing a game against the New York Jets, the last two games against the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills are very critical. The record-breaking situation would have been easier to handle if he had participated in the Jets game.
Tyreek Hill cleared for action against Ravens after full Friday practice
Tyreek Hill is set to take the field without an injury designation for the upcoming game against the Ravens, signaling his successful recovery from an ankle injury suffered during Week 14’s Monday Night Football clash against the Tennessee Titans. The star wide receiver participated fully in Friday’s practice.
The injury occurred during the Monday night matchup against the Titans, where Hill faced an unfortunate setback in the first quarter. Titans cornerback Sean Murphy’s tackle left Hill with an awkward landing, resulting in visible discomfort and a brief stint on the ground. Despite initial concerns, Hill returned to the game in the third quarter, although he was visibly hampered and unable to maintain his usual level of play.
Miami’s cautious approach to Hill’s recovery became evident as he missed practice throughout the week following the injury. Head coach Mike McDaniel initially labeled him as day-to-day, emphasizing the importance of careful management for the MVP candidate.
The ankle injury didn’t deter Hill for long, as he made a triumphant return in the following game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. Recording an impressive nine catches for 99 yards, Hill’s performance played a pivotal role in the Dolphins’ convincing 30-0 victory. Despite his prior absence and injury concerns, Hill played the full game.
It will remain to be seen how he moonlights as a hero again in Week 17 for the Dolphin’s offense.
