Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was a surprise absence at Dolphins practice on Friday.
Hill was not spotted during the small window of practice open to reporters.
Why? Hill got a veteran’s day off Friday, and there’s no reason to believe that his availability for Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans is in doubt.
The Latest on Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
He practiced fully Thursday and spoke with reporters after practice about playing an important role with Jaylen Waddle in Monday’s game.
“Our job is to be a good teammate,” said Hill, who had 13 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown in 2024. “As frustrating as it is as a player because it can get tough for both of us because we’re so used to being such big game-changers and stuff like that, it’s tough.
“But at the end of the day, we’ve got to understand that we have great players on this team who can make plays and whenever our plays come, we got to make our plays. We just can’t be the guy that always wants the ball and then when the ball comes, we don’t make the play. We got to be able to rely on our teammates.”
Added Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith: “I think overall, we’re genuinely frustrated for where we’re at and how we’re executing as a group, but everyone’s focus is on getting better and knowing that it’s a long season and how you start isn’t how you finish and each week presents its own challenges.
“[Hill] been great, and in the course of a game, all the guys are competitors and they want to be part of the reason why we’re successful. I think he has been great, and like all guys, we’re going back to work and working on the things that we can improve to make sure that we have a better outcome this weekend.”
Hill’s Fantasy Outlook for Week 4
Be careful. Hill is still a fantasy starter, but I’m not beholden to that beyond this week if we don’t see signs of life.
Miami’s WR1 hasn’t been a top-40 receiver in consecutive weeks, which means he has matched his total of such performances from last season. Part of what made this offense so explosive under Tua Tagovailoa was the versatility and misdirection, but if defenses aren’t concerned about the quarterback making the proper reads, none of the motion matters.
I’m hopeful that, with two weeks to work in a new system, Miami’s offense can adapt to having a backup under center. Yet, if Monday night looks anything like last Sunday, I could see a world in which Hill doesn’t crack my top 30 in Week 5 at Foxboro, Mass.
— Kyle Soppe