MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins will attempt to improve to 11-4 on Sunday while coming one step closer to clinching their first AFC East title since 2008. But Tyreek Hill’s availability against the Dallas Cowboys remains unclear.
Dallas’ defense ranks among the NFL‘s best and will give the Dolphins’ offense one of its stiffest tests of the 2023 campaign. Will Hill be able to suit up?
Will Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Play in Week 16?
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters here that Hill will not practice Wednesday, but he made clear that too much should not be read into that decision.
Rather, it was in an effort to give Hill the best chance to have “all cylinders go” Sunday against the Cowboys.
UPDATE (Dec. 21): Hill was back at practice Thursday, and seems to have an excellent chance of playing Sunday against the Cowboys.
This past Sunday, Hill missed his first game since 2020 after the ankle he sprained six days before had not improved enough for him to go against the Tennessee Titans.
Episode 5 of the 2023 in-season “Hard Knocks” chronicled Hill’s attempt to give it a go against Tennessee, but he simply didn’t feel the necessary stability in the joint to play.
The Dolphins still hammered the Jets 30-0 with Hill inactive. Third-year wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Waddle did that despite logging 41 of a possible 61 snaps (67%). He missed some time while he was being evaluated for a chest injury.
No other Dolphins wide receiver had more than 12 receiving yards. Instead, Tua Tagovailoa targeted tight end Durham Smythe (four catches on as many targets for 32 yards) and running back De’Von Achane (three on three for 30).
MORE: Miami Dolphins Week 16 Playoff Scenarios
If Hill cannot go Sunday against the Cowboys, the Dolphins will likely need a bigger impact from Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Chase Claypool.
The Jets rank 30th in points per game (14.4). The Cowboys rank second (30.8) behind only the Dolphins.
Hill’s injury erased any margin for error in his quest to break the NFL’s single-season receiving record. His 1,542 yards and 12 touchdowns still lead the league, but he now needs to average 141 yards over the final three games to overtake Calvin Johnson (1,964 in 2012) for first all-time.
As for his quest to become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver? That would take 152.7 over the last three. And that production would have to come against the Cowboys (sixth in dropback EPA), Ravens (second), and Bills (13th).
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