Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill sparked controversy during the team’s season-ending loss to the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon when he appeared to step away from the game mid-contest.
Head coach Mike McDaniel seemed reluctant to delve into the matter during his postgame press conference. Addressing the situation, McDaniel did acknowledge that Hill opted not to enter the game despite being physically capable of playing.
“I was informed that he was unavailable right before a drive,” McDaniel explained, according to Pro Football Talk. “I was not informed that it was a new injury, and I think at that point of time my focus was on the players and I didn’t take the time to go and try and figure out more into that. There were guys on the field that were competing, and we were trying to win a game, so my focus was there.”
Yet, when directly asked if Hill had removed himself from the game, McDaniel avoided providing a clear answer.
“I was informed he wasn’t available, and I didn’t really have the time to dig more into that and we’ll see what comes of that after watching the tape and talking to coaches and the training staff,” McDaniel stated.
When pressed further on how he became aware of Hill’s unavailability, McDaniel offered only limited insight.
“It was discussed by the coaching staff on the headset and the play clock was running, so I moved on and called plays for people that were out there,” he said.
Hill, when questioned about the incident, initially cited lingering issues that had plagued him throughout the season and suggested, “Coach kind of pulled me out.”
However, when asked if McDaniel benched him due to a wrist injury, Hill’s account shifted. He insinuated that his motivation waned once the team’s playoff chances evaporated.
“Just one of those issues, man, that like you know, you look up at the scoreboard, Chiefs are down [to the Broncos] and it’s like, OK,” Hill remarked.
The fallout didn’t end there. Hill’s demeanor suggested he wasn’t just done with the game — he might be ready to move on from the Dolphins entirely.
After the game, Hill was candid about his offseason plans, declaring, “I’m out, bruh.”
“I don’t even know, bruh,” Hill told Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. “This is my first time I haven’t been in the playoffs, man, so, I mean, for me, I’ve just got to do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here, or wherever the case may be — I’m [about to] open that door for myself.
“Yeah, I’m opening the door — I’m out, bruh,” Hill continued. “So, it was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for my career and what’s best — because I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
Needless to say, it seems increasingly likely that Hill’s time in Miami has come to an end.
