Tyreek Hill plays through wrist injury, scores to end touchdown drought in Dolphins’ win over Rams

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — It wasn’t sure if Miami Dolphins vast receiver Tyreek Hill can be accessible in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night time. Not solely did he play, Hill ended the longest landing drought of his NFL profession in Miami’s 23-15 win.

Recognized for his explosive positive factors, Hill bought into the top zone on a 1-yard move from Tua Tagovailoa within the third quarter to place the Dolphins (3-6) up 17-6. Hill had gone seven video games with out scoring after catching a landing within the season opener in opposition to Jacksonville, when he additionally had a season-high 130 yards on seven receptions.

“I didn’t know that, which is loopy, man,” Hill mentioned. “Yeah, it’s a blessing to be again in the long run zone. Man, I’m grateful to be part of this workforce. Nevertheless I may also help this workforce, I’m all for profitable. It don’t matter about me scoring, man. It’s about profitable. It’s the significance of having the ability to do one thing particular amongst these guys.”

Hill had been questionable due to a torn ligament in his wrist. He missed two days of apply final week, and Tagovailoa mentioned the workforce didn’t know whether or not Hill might play till Sunday night time.

Fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr., nonetheless, was assured Hill can be there.

“I imply, I don’t really feel like he wasn’t gonna play, damage or not,” Beckham mentioned. “Nah. There’s no means he wasn’t gonna play on ‘Monday Evening Soccer’ after we’re in a must-win state of affairs. So only for him to have the ability to try this, rating, he is aware of how a lot he means to this workforce, so we recognize him.”

Hill completed with three receptions for 16 yards. It was his second lowest output as a move catcher this season, after managing one seize for 8 yards at Indianapolis in Week 7. Hill added 11 yards dashing on two carries.

That stat line didn’t do something to deal with what it on tempo to be Hill’s least productive season since his rookie marketing campaign in Kansas Metropolis in 2016. He now has 37 receptions for 462 yards and two touchdowns, a pointy drop-off after having a minimum of 1,700 yards in every of his first two seasons with Miami. He beforehand spent six seasons with the Chiefs.

The 30-year-old Hill has had a minimum of 1,200 yards receiving in every of the earlier 4 seasons. He led the NFL with 1,799 yards and 13 landing catches in 2023 and agreed in August to a restructured contract with extra assured cash.

A lot of this season’s downturn will be attributed to an prolonged absence for Tagovailoa due to a concussion. However Tagovailoa mentioned there was no pushback from Hill or Jaylen Waddle to attempt to make up these numbers since he returned in opposition to Arizona in Week 8, particularly in opposition to a Rams’ protection that largely performed conservative move coverages.

“Coming into this recreation, they might have simply mentioned, like, ‘Dude, simply proceed to throw the ball, even when they’re in a two-high shell,’” Tagovailoa mentioned. “However these guys are in it, man. They’re simply in it to win it.”

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