Buffalo Bills Ex Nyheim Hines Takes Blame for Season-Ending Injury

The Buffalo Bills released running back Nyheim Hines less than a year after he suffered an ACL tear before 2023. How did he reflect on the decision?

Dec 17, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines (20). / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

In 2022, the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts swapped backup running backs Zack Moss and Nyheim Hines. A year later, Moss would break out for Indianapolis, exceeding every expectation in relief of running back Jonathan Taylor and eventually landing a starting job with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.

In Buffalo, Hines’ 2023 season never got off the ground.

A freak jet ski accident during the offseason dealt Hines a torn ACL, immediately taking the (then) upcoming season away from him. He wouldn’t play another down in Buffalo before hitting the open market.

Hines signed a contract worth up to $3.5 million with the Cleveland Browns in March as they navigate a fluid running back room after Nick Chubb’s knee injury. 

On “Up & Adams,” Hines reflected on his Bills tenure and the injury that resulted in his eventual release.

The Bills' Nyheim Hines returns this kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown against the Patriots. / JAMIE GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND

“It’s business, both sides could have been better and worse, but there’s no hard feelings, that’s how things work out,” Hines said. “They have a cap space issue, they had to figure things out, and they moved on. There’s nothing wrong with that, that’s how the business goes. No hard feelings toward them, they have none towards me. 

“It’s still a family arranged thing at the end of the day. So not really mad about it, things happen, and when one door closes the Lord opens another door. So this is how it was supposed to happen.”

Hines’ injury could have ended his professional career. Instead, the Bills freed up $4.6 million in cap space and Hines received the opportunity to find a new home. 

He isn’t taking his second chance at football lightly.

“I think personally, it’s not even both sides, it’s me,” Hines said. “I could be better not putting myself in that situation. It was a freak accident but I’ve learned my lessons from that mistake. I won’t put myself in the position to even miss the season off the field. And based on that, I could say whatever I want to about the Bills but it’s really on me. I shouldn’t have put myself in that situation.”

Buffalo may address its running back depth in the later stages of free agency or the NFL Draft, but the emergence of James Cook has helped ease concerns in the backfield. The Bills currently have Cook, Ty Johnson, and Darrynton Evans rostered.