The Miami Dolphins lost a big fish on Monday night.
In the midst of their first win of the season, the Dolphins felt a major loss on offense – losing star receiver Tyreek Hill potentially for this season and beyond.
The All-Pro suffered what was a gruesome-looking knee injury, which was later revealed to be a dislocated knee. Unfortunately for Hill and the Dolphins, there was more damage beneath the surface. Hill also suffered multiple torn ligaments, including the ACL, according to ESPN. He will undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Hill was quickly carted off the field in the third quarter and appeared to be in good spirits. It figures to be a long road ahead for the 31-year-old, who had been fairly durable to this point in his career – playing in 145 games over 10 seasons.
Fresh off their ‘Monday Night Football’ win over the New York Jets, Miami is left searching for answers going forward. Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ depth chart with Hill sidelined.
Dolphins WR depth chart
Losing Hill atop the depth chart is undoubtedly a big blow to Miami’s depth chart. Here’s what remains after his injury:
- Jaylen Waddle
- Malik Washington
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Dee Eskridge
- Tahj Washington
This is officially Waddle’s receiver room now, but it’s not something the fifth-year player hasn’t experienced before. Hill wasn’t acquired until the 2022 season, meaning Waddle played his rookie year without the other half of what had become a formidable duo.
Waddle posted career-highs in targets (140) and receptions (104) before Hill’s arrival, finishing with 1,015 yards and seven total touchdowns in his rookie season. He is in line for an expanded role in this offense.
It’s unclear whether Washington slides into the Hill role, but he has been on the field plenty in the young season. The second-year receiver is playing more of a gadget role for McDaniel’s team and is on pace to shatter his rookie year totals. Washington has eight catches, but has already logged eight carries for 60 yards through four games.
Westbrook-Ikhine doesn’t fit the speed profile that Hill provided, meaning his insertion into a bigger role could signal somewhat of a philosophy change. The former Tennessee Titans receiver makes his living as a blocker, which would provide a boost to the running backs in this offense. He also hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns in 2024, displaying some receiving upside.
Eskridge and Washington are depth pieces at this stage, with the former being a second-round pick that has played in just 34 games across five seasons.
Dolphins WR options
Odell Beckham Jr., free agent
Beckham has plenty of familiarity with the Dolphins after playing for them in 2024. He has no plans to retire at this stage and the phone lines are open. Beckham is the type of signing that won’t rock the boat, but also provide some depth.
DJ Chark, free agent
A former member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chark is no stranger to football in the Sunshine State. He is still only 29 years old and has been known for his speed.
Mecole Hardman, free agent
The Kansas City Chiefs thought they were getting another Hill when they drafted Hardman in 2019. He never developed into that replacement option for Kansas City and is now a free agent. From a pure speed standpoint, however, this is as close to Hill as McDaniel’s team can get.
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Meyers requested a trade over the summer after contract talks failed to progress. A free agent after this season, the Raiders WR would be a rental option, with the potential for an extension at some point. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for Miami to invest any draft picks in the trade market to improve this 1-3 team, but nothing can be ruled out if McDaniel and the front office are trying to save their jobs.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
Much like Meyers, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to dive into the trade market. However, Ridley likely wouldn’t require as much in compensation. He’s in the second-year of a four-year, $92 million deal with Tennessee and playing for a front office that didn’t sign him. Ridley hasn’t gelled with Cam Ward through four weeks, taking a backseat to the rookie, Elic Ayomanor.
Tennessee could clear Ridley off their books and Miami could find a once-productive receiver at a fraction of the cost. If nothing else, Ridley’s contract has an out in it after this season, according to Spotrac, and would allow the Dolphins to move on if it doesn’t work.
