After the Dolphins’ ugly Week 1 loss, whispers grew that Tyreek Hill might be on the trade block. That talk only got louder when Miami’s star wideout went down with a season-ending leg injury. Tom Pelissero and other analysts backed up many fans’ vision of a dramatic Kansas City return. But according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini’s those dreams were never close to reality.

In her piece for The Athletic, Russini reported that Hill “was never considered a real option in Kansas City, even as the Chiefs stumbled out of the gate.” Inside Arrowhead, the sentiment was clear: “He’s better than any trade we could make. People don’t realize how good he is,” a team source said. That praise, however, wasn’t for Hill; it was for Rashee Rice, the player Andy Reid and the Chiefs see as their future centerpiece. This underscores that Hill was never truly in the Chiefs’ plans, effectively signaling that Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice are viewed as superior options in virtually every aspect of the offense.

That’s why the Chiefs didn’t flinch. Rice is eligible to return in Week 7 after serving his suspension for the March 2024 car crash. And in Kansas City, patience has been the playbook. To the Chiefdom, Rice remains the cleanest route runner and most dangerous weapon in the passing game. Russini also noted that the coaching staff has taken the long view.

Andy Reid and his crew wanted to see how Patrick Mahomes’ offense looked once the younger receivers settled. On Sunday, rookie Xavier Worthy reminded everyone why Kansas City drafted him high. He paced the team in rushing with 38 yards and receiving 83 yards, proving that the offense has answers without chasing splashy trades.

However, Hill still has a good resume. Across 10 seasons, his production—802 catches, 11,138 yards, 82 touchdowns—speaks for itself. Yet another insider believes the Dolphins may cut him, anyway.

Dolphins likely to release Tyreek Hill, insider says

Tyreek Hill’s future in Miami suddenly looks cloudy. After the Dolphins star went down with a brutal knee injury, surgery followed this week, and recovery will be a long road. Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed the surgery went well. “An additional surgery won’t be necessary,” Rosenhaus said. But insiders are skeptical.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported that, recovering from a knee dislocation at 31 isn’t a quick fix, no matter how good the early reports sound. Before the setback, Hill was quietly bouncing back from a down 2024 season, averaging 66 yards per game and adding 67 more the night he got hurt. And yes, money will always be the elephant in the room.

Tyreek Hill’s three-year, $90 million extension faces a 2026 cap crunch, with nearly $52 million in charges, including $29.9 million base salary and $16 million in guarantees set to trigger by March 14, making a release a real possibility.

With the final year of Hill’s extension largely symbolic, no injury protections applied, and league sources doubt Miami will commit top dollars if he can’t pass a physical. Effectively, the deal pays out $52.6 million over two seasons. While a return to the Dolphins “cannot be ruled out,” much depends on Hill’s health and the decision-makers in Miami, leaving his future uncertain.