The Cheetah, the Penguin, and the QB1 will all be on the field together Sunday for the Miami Dolphins for the first time in weeks.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Friday that he’s “very optimistic” wide receiver Tyreek Hill will play in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals after being limited this week with a foot injury.
Will Tyreek Hill Play in Week 8?
That optimism was justified. Hill is officially active in Week 8.
But he might not be 100%
After being a full participant with no injury listed Wednesday, Hill was limited in his participation Thursday, the team announced.
That usually is a sign that a player got hurt during practice. Sometimes it is nothing. But sometimes it is something — bad.
And certainly, it wasn’t a great sign that reporters didn’t spot him at practice Friday. If not for McDaniel’s comments, the level of concern for his availability would be far higher.
The practice report does look ominous as Mike McDaniel listed Hill as a DNP Friday and gave him a Questionable designation for Sunday.
Hill has been one of the Dolphins’ most reliable players since joining Miami in the spring of 2022. He’s appeared in 41 of a possible 42 games (including the playoffs) with the Dolphins.
And while his production this year is way down (24 catches for 294 yards and a touchdown in six games), that’s largely a product of quarterback play. But with Tua Tagoaviloa set to return this week after missing the previous four games with a concussion, Hill was ecstatic about the possibilities on offense.
Tyreek Hill on the return of Tua Tagovailoa pic.twitter.com/GJcBLGpEBh
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 23, 2024
When asked on Wednesday what it’s going to take to get the Dolphins’ offense again looking like it did in 2023, Hill replied:
“Just having Tua back. … He’s a big part of the team. He’s the franchise, dawg. And anybody that doesn’t see that or doesn’t believe it, like go to another team. I care less right now, man. I miss, I miss the dude, bro. This whole team missed him.”
Miami Dolphins WR Depth Chart Overview
Hill isn’t the only banged-up Dolphins wide receiver this week. His running mate, Jaylen Waddle, is dealing with a quadriceps injury that limited his participation in practice this week. Waddle is expected to play as well, however.
If Waddle or Hill could not have gone, the Dolphins would have been quite thin at wide receiver, particularly with Braxton Berrios out for the season.
The next men up are Odell Beckham Jr. (zero catches on three targets this year), Malik Washington (three catches for 17 yards on four targets), and Dee Eskridge (one catch for 30 yards on one target.