Former Bills' Running Back Plotting NFL Return After Freak Accident

July 10, 2025 , , , ,
Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines runs the ball during 2023 game.

Former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines is hoping to reignite his NFL career nearly two years after a jet ski accident derailed it. 

Nyheim Hines Eyes Comeback After Jet Ski Injury Derailed Career

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hines now believes his surgically repaired knee is fully healed and is looking for a training camp opportunity ahead of the 2025 season. 

Once a dangerous dual-threat back and elite return specialist, Hines hasn't played a snap since his explosive Week 18 performance in 2022, when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against the New England Patriots.

Hines still chasing potential as dynamic return threat

Hines’ career took a dramatic turn in July 2023 when he tore his ACL in a non-football jet ski incident. At the time, he was expected to have a larger role with the Bills, but instead landed on the reserve/non-football injury list and was released the following offseason. 

He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, but never played a down, ultimately getting cut after failing to recover explosiveness in practice. Now 28, Hines says he feels ready and has been training in North Carolina, even earning a recent workout with the Houston Texans, though they opted to sign Nick Chubb instead.

Is there a role left in the NFL for Hines?

A return to Buffalo appears unlikely, as the Bills’ running back room seems locked in with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson. But Hines’ resume still stands out: over 1,200 rushing yards, 1,700 receiving yards, and more than 1,800 return yards with four touchdowns. 

For a team seeking backfield depth or special teams explosiveness, Hines could be a low-risk signing with upside.

Photo Credit: JAMIE GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE / USA TODAY NETWORK

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