There was a moment, early in the 2024 season, when it still looked possible. Tyreek Hill had opened the year with the same jet-fueled precision that made his 2023 season one of the most productive in NFL history—1,799 yards, 13 touchdowns, and the unmistakable sense that if anyone was going to finally crack 2,000 yards receiving, it would be him.

Through the first four weeks of 2024, the numbers weren’t far off pace. Hill was still finding space in tight coverage. Still pulling defenders out of zone shells. Still a nightmare in motion. But then, things changed. The separation wasn’t as consistent. The vertical routes weren’t connecting. The threat of Hill was still there, but the results began to trail the reputation. By midseason, Hill was averaging just over 56 yards per game. In the final six weeks, he scored one touchdown. In four of those games, he was held under 50 yards.

By Week 18, the picture was hard to ignore. He played the first half against the Jets. Then he didn’t come back. After the game, he offered little explanation, only a cryptic suggestion that his time in Miami might be over. Then came the confirmation: a lingering wrist injury that had been there since before Week 1. Not a flare-up. Not a midseason tweak. A real structural issue, one that had required medical attention from the start, and one that Hill had chosen to play through.

Early in the season, doctors recommended surgery. But Hill decided to play through it, jeopardising his long-term health for a brief playoff run that never came. Now, four months later, Hill has undergone his second wrist procedure and is finally speaking publicly about the injury and the choices that followed.

The Dolphins’ top wide receiver is owning up—and doubling down—after recovering from Miami’s playoff loss and undergoing wrist surgery. The Cheetah described the decision to undergo surgery as “tough,” but not as harsh as facing his teammates following the disappointing end of the previous season. When asked about those raw moments in the locker room, Hill said bluntly, “Obviously, emotions were high then. But at the end of the day, man, I’m just looking to move forward from that, hoping that I can prove myself and…chasing 2K, chasing playoff dreams and all of that great stuff.”

According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Tyreek Hill acknowledged earlier this month that he had surgery to remove pins from his wrist. That was his second procedure this offseason. Agent Drew Rosenhaus reassured that Hill’s recovery is going “great.” And that he should be ready to return for training camp. In a Fox-7 program, Rosenhaus explained that the most recent surgery was a clean-up procedure after a season of playing through pain. “It was the plan all along,” he added.

There were both physical and reputational costs associated with the choice to postpone surgery during the 2024 season. Hill’s role as Miami’s offensive engine was called into question. He missed games and was not chosen for the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. But Cheetah is already making changes. Hill disclosed that by concentrating on endurance and late-game stamina, he reduced his weight from 197 to 183 pounds. He told reporters, “I committed myself to eating right, training hard every day, and just drinking more water.”

Tyreek Hill takes accountability for the leadership role

Tyreek Hill’s NFL career has been characterized by speed, arrogance, and sound bites. Humility hardly ever made the highlight reel. This week, that changed. Hill addressed one of the most pressing offseason concerns during OTAs. It was about leadership. Specifically, whether he still deserves to be a Dolphins captain.

The question, posed directly by a reporter: “You’ve been a captain here. Do you wanna be a captain in 2025? Do you think you deserve to be a captain?” Hill didn’t just reflect, he reset. His response was equally straightforward: “I gotta prove myself. This OTA’s training camp. I gotta show up different…I don’t feel like I deserve it. And if I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t dwell on it…Cuz I put myself in that position.” The pursuit of redemption, trust, and 2,000 yards begins now. 

Hill’s brutal honesty arrives as Miami fights for relevancy. Their 8-9 record in 2024 exposed a squad that was too skilled to lose but too inconsistent to compete. Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion and Hill’s wrist injury stalled their momentum. Compared to the Hill, who came to Miami three years ago with a Super Bowl ring, a huge contract, and plenty of confidence, the humility is a noticeable change.

Amidst offseason upheaval, including a family conflict in April and a brief spike in trade rumors in January, Hill said he has relied on faith and therapy to refocus. He has made a concerted effort to reintegrate into the team culture. So, 2025 offers a fresh opportunity, and Hill isn’t going to waste it.