Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill wasn’t able to complete the Monday night game. He wasn’t even able to leave on his own accord. But All-Pro wide receiver Hill did depart Miami with one thing it desperately tried to acquire: energy. Due to incredible fortune, courtesy of a report by head coach Mike McDaniel, Hill’s humor and wit turned a horrid evening into one that the Dolphins will remember as the season’s turning point.

McDaniel assured following the game that Hill dislocated his knee in Monday’s 27-21 win over the New York Jets. The All-Pro wide receiver spent the night at a local hospital awaiting further tests with scans to see whether he will need surgery. But what impressed McDaniel more than the injury itself was what happened after.

As per Marcel Louis-Jaques posted on X, ”Said Hill’s upbeat attitude immediately after the injury made a “giant” impact on the team psychologically. Hill cracked jokes with his teammates and was ‘inspiring”’

“He was inspiring in that situation, and I think his teammates benefited from that. He was probably in the best spirits of any player that I’ve ever seen [have] such a terrible experience,” McDaniel said. “He immediately had wide eyes and was talking, ‘I’m good, just make sure the guys get this win.’ He was focused on the team.”

The Miami offense in the first three weeks looked lackluster. They had the talent, but they lacked the consistency. Monday night witnessed something different. Missing their emotional leader, the Dolphins fell back on play-calling by head coach McDaniel, restoring the motion and the tempo.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spread the ball to multiple receivers, keeping New York’s defense off balance. Running back De’Von Achane delivered one of his most complete performances of the year, showcasing both speed and toughness on his way to a highlight touchdown run. The offensive line provided just enough protection for Tagovailoa to find rhythm, while Miami’s defensive front dominated at the line of scrimmage.

The contrast was present. Rather than playing catch-up, Miami dictated terms. Long drives exhausted the Jets, and turnovers, which had bothered the Dolphins all year, were their salvation. By making New York pay and then capitalizing, Miami finally resembled the well-rounded team everyone wanted to see.

What separated Monday’s performance wasn’t one player’s play, but a steady dedication to getting the little things right. Miami made its third-down conversions, erased drive-killing penalties, and unsettled the New York offense all night long. The Dolphins accumulated more than 300 yards of total offense as the defense stripped the ball away time and again.

Tagovailoa was flashy, tossing to Jaylen Waddle, Durham Smythe, and Malik Washington. All the receivers cycled in, and although none of them had Hill’s breakaway threat, they all moved the chains. Achane’s flash of speed with patience introduced a new element, and the defensive coaching staff extinguished any New York hopes of a comeback.

The Jets briefly threatened late, cutting the lead to six on a Garrett Wilson touchdown. But Miami’s defense clamped down, and the Dolphins controlled possession long enough to close out their first win of the season — a victory that McDaniel insisted was fueled by Hill’s resilience.

Tyreek Hill’s injury

The euphoria of the initial victory was dampened by the sight of Hill being carted away. The injury occurred early in the third quarter when Hill caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on third down. As Hill was tackled out of bounds, his left leg became twisted underneath him in an awkward position.

Team personnel and Jets players observed as medical personnel placed an air cast on his leg. Agent Drew Rosenhaus informed WSVN 7News that doctors indicated a dislocated knee but were still trying to get a sense of the extent of the injury with an MRI and CT scan.

“Are there torn ligaments? Cartilage? Broken bones? Blood flow? Nerve damage? Those are all the things we need to find out,” Rosenhaus said. “We know it’s a dislocation, but we don’t yet know how severe.” Miami anticipates receiving comprehensive medical details on Tuesday, but early indications suggest Hill’s leg injury will end his season.

Meanwhile, Miami holds its breath, and Hill sits out for a bit. That leaves the offense on the shoulders of Waddle, and he is technically the No. 1 receiver on the roster. Wide receiver Malik Washington will be next up behind him, already demonstrating flashes of consistency in training camp and preseason.

The Dolphins did establish a rhythm against the Jets, perhaps, but to do so without Hill for weeks or longer is a difficult task.