At the trade deadline back in the 2022 season, the Buffalo Bills needed to somehow add some versatility out of the backfield. The offense (which was under the first year of Ken Dorsey calling the plays) was becoming Josh Allen-reliant like we had never seen before and there was no threat in the rushing attack.
So, they decided to trade away running back Zack Moss and conditional 6th-round 2023 pick to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Nyheim Hines. Moss wasn’t contributing well to Buffalo’s offense and Hines could not only be used in the offense, but also on special teams.
Hines was a difference maker for the Bills in only one game as a member of the team in Week 18 of that season against the New England Patriots. On two kickoffs, he returned not one but two touchdowns to help the Bills win 35-23. So in all reality, without those two kickoff touchdown returns, who knows if the Bills would have won that game.
After that season ended, Hines was going to get the chance to have a full offseason and have a fresh start with the Bills. However, Hines wouldn’t play another down for the Bills. During the summer, it was reported that Hines had torn his ACL due to a jet-ski accident and was placed on the reserve/non-injury football list prior to the 2023 season and was released from the roster going into the 2024 season.
Nyheim Hines looking to make NFL return after major injury
According to Adam Schefter, Hines is looking to make a return to the NFL after missing the last two seasons and “believes his knee finally is ready for a return to action”. The Houston Texans were the most recent team to host a workout for Hines, according to Aaron Wilson. And while Hines did impress, the Texans opted to sign Nick Chubb to pair with Joe Mixon.
Before suffering the torn ACL injury, Hines had a great amount of potential of becoming a versatile playmaker for the Bills. However, life happens. While Hines is looking to make a comeback into the NFL, the Bills have built up a solid running back room with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson.
