INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — It was unclear whether Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill would be available for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Hill not only played, he ended the longest touchdown drought of his NFL career. Miami won 23-15..
Known for his explosive scoring ability, Hill entered the end zone on a 1-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter to give the Dolphins (3-6) a 17-6 lead. Hill went scoreless in seven games after catching a touchdown in the season opener against Jacksonville, when he still had seven receptions for a season-high 130 yards.
“I didn’t know that. It’s really crazy,” Hill said. “Yeah, I’m grateful to be back in the end zone. Hey, I’m grateful to be a part of this team. Even if I can help this team, I’m committed to winning.” It doesn’t matter that I score, man. It’s about winning. It’s about being able to do something special with these guys.”
Hill was questionable due to torn ligaments in his wrist. He missed two days of practice last week, and Tagovailoa said the team didn’t know whether Hill would be able to play until Sunday night.
But fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was confident Hill would play.
“So, injury or not, I don’t think he was going to play,” Beckham said. “No. There’s no way he wouldn’t play on ‘Monday Night Football’ when we’re in a must-win situation. So just for him to be able to do that and score, he’s an asset to this team.” We are grateful to him because we know how much it means to him.”
Hill had three receptions for 16 yards. It was the second-lowest total by a pass catcher this season, behind his one grab for 8 yards in Week 7 against Indianapolis. Hill added 11 yards rushing on two carries.
The performance did nothing to fix what was Hill’s least productive season since his rookie season in Kansas City in 2016. Currently, he has 37 receptions, 462 yards, and two touchdowns, but his performance has declined sharply after a strong period. He gained at least 1,700 yards in each of his first two seasons with Miami. He previously spent six seasons with the Chiefs.
Hill, 30, has had at least 1,200 yards receiving each of the past four seasons. He led the NFL with 1,799 yards and 13 touchdown catches in 2023 and agreed to a restructured contract with more guaranteed money in August.
Much of this season’s slump can be attributed to Tagovailoa’s long absence due to a concussion. But since Tagovailoa returned against Arizona in Week 8, he hasn’t had any pushback from Hill or Jaylen Waddle to make up for that, especially against a conservative pass-coverage-focused Rams defense. said.
“Coming into this game, they could have easily said, ‘Hey, keep throwing the ball, even if you’re double-down,'” Tagovailoa said. “But those guys are in it, dude. They’re just doing it to win.”
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