The Miami Dolphins secured their first win on Monday night against the New York Jets. However, the victory came at a steep cost, as they lost their star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to a gruesome injury. Even while hurt and knowing his season was likely over, Hill’s focus remained on the team’s success.
“He was probably in the best spirits of any player that I've ever seen [have] such a terrible experience," Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. "He immediately had wide eyes and was talking, 'I'm good, just make sure the guys get this win.' He was focused on the team."
Hill suffered severe damage to multiple areas in his knees, posing tough decisions for the Dolphins moving forward.
“Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill has torn multiple ligaments in his dislocated knee, including his ACL, ending his season and giving him a long road ahead for 2026, source says. He’ll have surgery today to repair the significant injury,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport posted.
Along with the injury diagnosis comes a financial complication that could force the Dolphins to consider cutting Hill.
“With surgery today, it’s possible that Tyreek Hill will undergo additional surgeries. There is no guarantee he’ll be ready for 2026. None of his 2026 salary is guaranteed now, but $11M (of $29.9M) becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster in March, plus a $5M roster bonus,” Rapoport wrote.
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The Dolphins also have to focus on immediate solutions, which could mean a significant trade is on the horizon.
“The fact that the Dolphins haven’t made a move at WR on a short week might hint that Chris Grier has something up his sleeve. Mike McDaniel kinda hinted at that. Losing Tyreek Hill isn’t a ‘next man up’ situation. It’s a ‘we’ll have to change everything’ situation,” Miami Herald’s Omar Kelly wrote.
It will be interesting to see how far the Dolphins go in pursuing a trade, but if they are confident, it could be a major one. Initially assumed to be sellers, the injury has forced them into a buyer’s role.
The Dolphins will need someone to complement Jaylen Waddle, or defenses could easily shut him down. This issue needs to be addressed quickly.