Jet Ski Crash: Nyheim Hines' 'Serious Injuries'; How Will Bills React?

The nature of Nyheim Hines' problem, initially billed as an "off-site knee injury.'' "Off-site'' indeed, because now we know that the Bills standout was injured and is lost for the season because he was hit by someone riding a Jet Ski.

An NFL player's free time is his free time. And they cannot exist in bubblewrap. But it is also hoped that care is taken so whatever it is they do in their free time doesn't prevent them from doing their jobs.

And now the Buffalo Bills have issues ... and now the season-ending injury to Nyheim Hines means Hines has issues.

Before we move to the football side of this - how to replace both a backup running back and one of the most electrifying kick-returners in the NFL -there is the nature of Hines' injury, initially billed on Monday morning as an "off-site knee injury.'' "Off-site'' indeed, because now we know that Hines was injured when he was hit by someone riding a Jet Ski.

Hines himself was sitting on his own stationary Jet Ski at the time of the crash; he is reportedly dealing with "serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.''

What is Hines' condition? Who was at fault? Those are important questions. And then there is the football problem of replacing their primary punt/kickoff-returner, compounded for the Bills because backups Isaiah McKenzie (Indianapolis Colts) and Jamison Crowder (New York Giants) both left in free agency. Khalil Shakir? Deonte Harty? go sign J.D. McKissic?

The running back situation doesn't have to be impacted. James Cook rushed for 507 yards as a backup, but Buffalo brought in former Patriot Damien Harris and journeyman Latavius Murray to compete for the starting job. The Bills reportedly are interested in trading for Green Bay Packers' backup A.J. Dillon, and high-profile free agents still available include Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt and former Dallas Cowboys' two-time rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott. Meanwhile, the Bills are working out running back Darrynton Evans on Monday.

That's the football part. And it's an issue. The Jet Ski part? That's an issue, too.

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