When is Tyreek Hill coming back? Alex Smith, Kevin Ware injuries serve as guide

Tyreek Hill has begun his long road to recovery after a gruesome knee injury, one the Miami Dolphins receiver hopes leads to Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

The 31-year-old wideout suffered one of the scariest leg injuries in recent memory Sept. 29 when he was tackled awkwardly at Hard Rock Stadium against the New York Jets. Hill's left foot bent the wrong way, leading to him being carted off the field with an air cast and sent to an area hospital. The diagnosis: a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL.

Hill's 2025 season is over, and fans are wondering whether his career is, as well. The nature of his injury brought to mind similar injuries to Nick Chubb and Teddy Bridgewater, plus the broken legs of Joe Theismann, Alex Smith and Kevin Ware. Most of those were able to return after a year or more of healing; some, such as Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller, saw their careers end.

If Hill is to resume his career on his own schedule, he has until Sept. 13, 2026 to get back to full health and play again to start next season. The Mayo Clinic says it can take up to 6 months before athletes can return to sports, while the Hartford Hospital puts the timetable at 9-10 months.

Tyreek Hill injury update

The Dolphins officially placed Hill on injured reserve Oct. 1. He'll remain there the rest of the season, as coach Mike McDaniel confirmed what everyone could see the instant the injury occurred. He also said Hill would remain in an area hospital overnight.

"There is a plethora of teammates that made sure their guy is good," McDaniel said Oct. 1. "... He's doing well and starting the long road to recovery."

Hill posted an update on social media earlier that morning, saying "surgery went great." He then quoted a Bible verse stating: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

McDaniel and Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have said the receiver hopes to return for the start of the 2026 season. Is that achievable? Here's a look at some of the most infamous leg injuries in recent years and how long it took for the athletes to return to play.

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Tank Dell

Texans receiver Tank Dell dislocated his kneecap, tore three ligaments and damaged his meniscus making a touchdown catch Dec. 21, 2024. The 25-year-old has returned to running drills, according to CBS Sports' Ross Tucker, and the Houston Chronicle reported he has also taken part in on-field drills, hinting at a return to play later this season.

Nick Chubb

Browns running back Nick Chubb tore his left MCL and meniscus on a run Sept. 18, 2023. The 27-year-old needed two surgeries to repair his knee, and he returned for Cleveland on Oct. 20, 2024. That was Chubb's second serious injury in the same place, after dislocating his left knee and tearing three ligaments on the opening play Oct. 15, 2015, when he was at Georgia. Then 20 years old, Chubb avoided damage to his ACL and returned for non-contact spring practice the following season before playing two more seasons for the Bulldogs.

Zach Miller

Bears tight end Zach Miller dislocated his left knee and tore multiple ligaments and his popliteal artery while making a touchdown catch Oct. 29, 2017. The 33-year-old spent eight days in a New Orleans ICU and another month in a Chicago hospital, requiring 13 surgeries, according to an interview on the Chicago Bears website. Miller nearly lost his leg but tried to make an NFL comeback before officially retiring in 2019.

Teddy Bridgewater

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee during non-contact practice Aug. 30, 2016. His leg nearly had to be amputated, but the 24-year-old would return to Minnesota's active roster Nov. 12, 2017. Bridgewater's career continued until the 2025 season, when he was released during the preseason by the Buccaneers.

These leg injuries didn't involve the knee, but do highlight the complexity of putting a rigid timetable on recovery:

Alex Smith

Washington quarterback Alex Smith sustained a compound fracture in his right leg after being sacked Nov. 18, 2018. He had surgery to repair his broken tibia and fibula, then needed follow-up emergency surgery after his leg developed an infection that threatened his life. His original recovery time was expected to be 6-8 months, but the 34-year-old Smith would miss the entire 2019 season before returning to play Oct. 11, 2020, 23 months after his injury. He would play eight games for Washington in his final NFL season.

Kevin Ware

Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware suffered a compound fracture in his right leg during an NCAA tournament game March 31, 2013. The 20-year-old Ware landed awkwardly after jumping to block a shot, resulting in his tibia breaking through the skin. He transferred to Georgia State in June 2014 and played two more seasons there because pursuing a pro career overseas.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tyreek Hill injury update, recovery time expectations