The Buffalo Bills acquired running back Nyheim Hines last year in a midseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Hines made the decision to rework his contract, taking a pay cut in order to remain with the Bills this offseason.
Known for his agility and shiftiness, Hines was expected to be a valuable pass-catching option out of the backfield behind James Cook, Damien Harris, and Latavius Murray. However, with Hines out for the year due to injury, the competition for the third-down role in passing situations is now up for grabs.
In addition to his skills as a running back, Hines is also a dynamic returner. He gained attention when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Week 18 of last season. The Bills had planned for him to be their primary kick and punt returner, but will now need to find suitable replacements from their in-house options, such as Deonte Harty, Khalil Shakir, and Micah Hyde.
It is always painful to see a player suffer a season-ending injury, but it is particularly devastating when it happens before the player even steps foot into training camp. This unfortunate circumstance is a major setback for both the Bills and Nyheim Hines.
