Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines is expected to miss the entire 2023 season with a “significant” knee injury, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
The nature of the knee injury is not known, nor the cause. According to Pelissero, it happened “offsite” and not at the Bills’ facilities.
It’s a brutal turn of events for 26-year-old Hines. He was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Bills midway through last season and took a pay cut to stay at Buffalo when the Bills restructured his contract.
Without Hines, the Bills have James Cook, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray as running backs. But Hines’ absence leaves a bigger hole than the third setter. He was also expected to be the primary kick and punt returner for the Bills, a role he fulfilled last year to positive results — particularly in Week 18, when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
The first comeback of Week 18 was particularly meaningful for Bills players, staff and fans. It was the first game since Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field, and Hines returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. It sent Highmark Stadium into a terrifying frenzy.
According to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, the inside options to replace Hines in those two jobs are Deonte Harty, Khalil Shakir and Micah Hyde.