MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — For the first time as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Tyreek Hill will not be in the starting lineup.
Hill is among the Dolphins’ seven inactive players Sunday against the New York Jets. He tried to give it a go, but his injured ankle did not respond in the way he needed during pre-game warmups.
What Tyreek Hill Injury Means to Miami Dolphins
Hill’s injury shifts the spotlight to Jaylen Waddle, who becomes Tua Tagovailoa’s No. 1 target against the NFL’s No. 2 pass defense.
The Jets are allowing just 5.4 yards per attempt and 167.2 passing yards per game in 2023.
Expect Waddle to get the lion’s share of attention from the Jets’ defense Sunday.
MORE: 7 Crucial Stats for Jets vs. Dolphins
While Waddle’s efficiency is down from 2022, when he averaged 18.1 yards per catch, he is still second among all Dolphins players in catches (63), receiving yards (822), and touchdown catches (3). He will play second fiddle to no one Sunday.
Also expect an expanded role for Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Robbie Chosen Sunday.
The good news for the Dolphins? They will have running back De’Von Achane, who was questionable with a toe injury. Expect Miami to use him in both the ground and passing games. Achane is actually averaging more yards per carry (9.2) than per catch (6.9) in 2023.
Even with Sunday’s development, Hill will still likely go into Week 16 as the NFL‘s leader in receiving yards (he’s currently at 1,542) and touchdowns (12).
And if he breaks Calvin Johnson’s NFL record for receiving yards in a season (1,964, set in 2012), there should be no asterisk.
Hill will have done it in as many games as Johnson played when he broke the record.
Hill needs to average 141 yards over the season’s final three games to overtake Johnson, and 152.7 over the final three to become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver — which has been his very public goal this year.
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