Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines' 2023 campaign is over before it started.
Hines suffered a significant knee injury off-site and is expected to miss the entire upcoming season, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday, per sources informed of the situation.
Pelissero reported Hines was sitting stationary on a jet ski and was struck by another rider, sustaining a serious but non-life threatening injury. Pelissero adds that Hines suffered an ACL injury in his left knee and surgery is likely to occur this week.
Buffalo acquired Hines last year in a midseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts. The back reworked his contract, taking a pay cut to remain with the Bills this offseason.
The shifty Hines was expected to be a pass-catching option out of the backfield behind James Cook, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. With Hines out for the year, the third-down role in passing situations will be up for grabs.
A dynamic returner, who famously returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Week 18 last season, Hines was expected to be the primary kick and punt returner for the Bills. Buffalo must fill those two spots with Deonte Harty, Khalil Shakir and Micah Hyde as the main in-house options.
Season-ending injuries at any time are painful, but when they happen before a player even steps into training camp, they're even worse. It's a brutal blow for the Bills and Hines.
