Tyreek Hill has openly accepted responsibility during what has been one of the least productive seasons of his nine-year NFL career. Following a lackluster performance in the Miami Dolphins’ 29-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Hill addressed the noticeable decline in his connection with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
“I feel like at the end of the day, I need those valuable reps with Tua,” Hill stated. “Those vet rest days are starting to show.”
It is common practice for NFL teams to provide veteran players with rest days, particularly as the season progresses and injuries accumulate. Hill has missed three practices in the past month due to rest or personal reasons, including one this past Wednesday for what the team described as rest for a wrist issue. He has been managing a wrist injury throughout the season and was listed as questionable before Sunday’s game.
“There are always pros and cons with any sort of rest,” said Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. “I want every player to practice at full intensity every week. It’s a balancing act to figure out how to rest players while keeping them in optimal condition. The adjustment to getting more reps with Tua is straightforward. We just need to ensure that our communication is effective so that players feel well-prepared.”
In the game against the 49ers, Hill caught only 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, including several drops, one of which occurred on a critical third down during Miami’s opening drive. “I completely blame myself for not getting my head around and not seeing the ball,” Hill admitted. “If I see the ball, we’re talking cross-court, 70-yard touchdown.”
Hill and Tagovailoa also missed on two potential touchdown connections during the game. One pass was deflected by a San Francisco defensive back just out of Hill’s reach, while the other was a drop, which Hill again attributed to a lack of practice reps.
“One thing I learned from Coach Andy Reid during my time in Kansas City is that you can’t just show up on Sunday,” Hill said. “You need to prepare yourself throughout the week. When Sunday comes, it should feel easy.”
Currently, Hill is on track for his least productive season since 2019, when he recorded 58 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. This season, he leads the Dolphins with 834 receiving yards and six touchdowns, but has only 70 catches—six fewer than running back De’Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith, who are tied for the team lead. Hill is averaging just 57.5 yards per game, the lowest since his rookie season.
This decline contrasts sharply with last year’s performance, where Hill amassed 1,799 yards, 13 touchdowns, and an average of 112.4 yards per game, leading the NFL in all categories.
Hill also faced challenges earlier in the season when Tagovailoa was sidelined for four games due to a concussion. During that stretch, Hill’s production plummeted to just 35 yards per game, as the Dolphins struggled offensively, averaging a league-worst 12 points.
After the game, Tagovailoa acknowledged the need for more practice reps with Hill. “That’s the secret sauce to me being able to connect with all these guys,” he said. “If we miss a throw or are off during practice, we’ll make up those reps together. It’s important for us to communicate about what we see and how we feel about the routes. That definitely ties back to the need for more reps.”
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