The Miami Dolphins earned their first win of the season but were shaken by a disturbing knee injury to star receiver Tyreek Hill.
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle requested a few extra minutes to compose his thoughts about the Tyreek Hill knee injury.
Waddle addressed Hill's devastating dislocated knee in the locker room after Miami's 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football."
"One of our captains, leaders, and just the player that means so much to the team, you know, so prayers to him," Waddle said. " It's tough. It's just sad, you know, anytime you see someone go down. That stature, what he meant to the team, what he meant to the game of football, just his legacy and everything that he did in his career, it's always tough."
Hill was not technically a 2025 team captain, but he was a past captain and he was arguably the most talented player on the Dolphins.
Miami faces the real possibility of playing most or all of the rest of this season without Hill. And so that's why there was a bit of a solemn tone in the locker room, despite Miami's first win of the season.
Waddle said he spoke to Hill while he was on a cart, before he left the field.
Hill's message?
"Finish the game strong and finish for him," Waddle said. "Get the win for him."
Waddle becomes Miami's No. 1 wide receiver.
"We all have to step up," Waddle said. "That's my twin, bro. We all got to play for him. We've got confidence in all our guys."
Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Tahj Washington are among the players who figure to see increased roles in 2025.
"I'm just waiting on that time, patiently," Eskridge said in the locker room, adding of the Hill injury, "Obviously not a good situation. It's definitely a violent game. But you know that's our brother and we're definitely gonna hold him up spiritually."
"Heartbroken," Westbrook-Ikhine said. "I believe in everybody in that room. I've seen the work that we put in. I feel like we're all ready to take on some of that slack."
Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul said he got a good look at Hill's injury.
"Yes, I did," Paul said. "No comment. No comment. But he's in my prayers."
How may Hill's injury affect the team?
"It's a huge blow," Paul said. "That's a leader for our team. So he's very vocal, he brings the energy. He's a heart and soul player on this team. So we've all got his back."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins saddened by Tyreek Hill knee injury; 'Huge blow.'
Category: Football
