Bills RB Nyheim Hines Reportedly Tore His ACL After A Jet Ski Crashed Into Him While He Was Sitting On A Stationary Jet Ski
Hand up, when I saw this tweet or X or whatever Elon wants us to call stuff on his digital hellscape these days, I thought it was just the latest example of why nothing good happens in the preseason. I wasn't sure if Hines got hurt while in a gym, on a field, or somewhere else. But I figured it was some sort of football related activity that caused this injury, which of course comes with those three ugly letters of ACL that always spell doom for football players, especially NFL RBs.
However, it turns out there's reportedly even more to the story:
ESPN- The Bills have lost a key special teams and offensive player before training camp even gets started. Running back Nyheim Hines suffered what is expected to be a season-ending injury to his left ACL while away from the team's facility, a source said.
As a Giants fan that just saw Xavier McKinney get hurt in an ATV accident last year, I had a bad feeling when I saw "away from the team's facility" and sure as shit, that was the case. But it doesn't seem like Hines was even driving his jet ski!
Hines, 26, sustained the knee injury when he was struck by a Jet Ski and will at some point require surgery, according to ESPN and multiple reports. He was sitting on a stationary Jet Ski when he was struck, per ESPN and multiple reports. Hines suffered no life-threatening injuries, such as to his liver or kidney, according to the source. The expectation and goal will be for him to return to football for the 2024 season. It was not immediately known when and where Hines was hurt.
I know that people (read: crazy fans) get upset when athletes live their lives off the field and get hurt while having fun, especially if that fun happens while he is on a vehicle. But getting hit by someone else riding a jet ski while you are just sitting on a stationary jet ski is completely fucked. Granted, most of the time I see people driving jet skis, they are driving them like Kenny Powers at a lake party. But you would think that at some point, everyone would agree to make sure they keep a safe distance from the guy making millions of dollars to play football.
I know Nyheim will bounce back with rehab and #BillsMafia will pull themselves by their bootstraps as they always do, even if its usually in winter instead of summer. Until then, we'll always have that absolutely ELECTRIC kickoff to start the first game back after Damar Hamlin's near-death experience that was the epitome of the #Somethings movement.
Also let this be a reminder that nothing good happens in the preseason, be it on the field or off of it. I wish we could just turn off injuries and simulate to Week 1, no matter how boring that would make August. That's not how life works however, so everyone better buckle up because it's all getting started.
