Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not officially activated from Non-Football Injury list within his 21-day practice window, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Hines will end up missing the entire season in Cleveland after tearing his ACL in a jet-ski accident in July of 2023. With Nick Chubb returning from his own devastating knee injury last week, there just wasn't room for the 27-year-old pass-catching specialist on the Browns' active 53-man roster heading into a Week 8 contest against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Jerome Ford (hamstring) missed the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but the Browns also have D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. as depth at the position behind Chubb.
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not activated before their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Hines is still recovering from his torn ACL. However, the 27-year-old did log three full practices this week, which suggests he will return in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Hines tallied only 36 yards on the ground with one score but caught 25 passes for 188 yards through the air. This weekend, fantasy managers should expect Nick Chubb (knee) and D'Onta Foreman to lead the backfield. When Hines does return, he should see most of his work on passing downs.
Nyheim Hines To Remain On Non-Football Injury List
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee), who is coming off surgery for a torn ACL, will remain on the Non-Football Injury list for the start of the 2024 regular season and will miss at least the first four games. Hines and fellow RB Nick Chubb (knee) pushed each other and made great strides during their rehab, but they both need more time and won't be available until at least a Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders on the road. The 27-year-old Hines tore his ACL when he was hit by a jet ski last summer and missed all of the 2023 campaign. At best, he'll be a pass-catching option on third downs for the Browns when he's able to return, making him only worth a flier in deep PPR leagues that have multiple IR spots. As things stand right now, Cleveland's RB room only includes Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. after they released D'Onta Foreman on Tuesday.
Nyheim Hines Placed On Active/Non-Football Injury List
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list on Wednesday. Hines has been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered before 2023's training camp in a jet ski accident. Once passing a physical, Hines should be in line to compete for a role as a returner and pass-catching specialist. Hines has a shot to get real work with the Browns' backfield up in the air. Nick Chubb (knee) began training camp on the PUP list and the team has Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman slated for backfield work as Chubb recovers. If Hines can earn a role in the Browns offense, he would be somebody to watch on fantasy waiver wires. For now, monitor Hines and his recovery.
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during a jet ski accident last summer, but the team believes he could compete to be their third-down back and primary kick returner if healthy, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Specifically, Jackson notes that Hines could compete with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman for the backup role if Nick Chubb (knee) is cleared for Week 1, but that would put Chubb well ahead of schedule. If Chubb needs more time to recover, Ford would likely handle early downs while Hines rotates in on third down. Hines specialized as both a returner and pass-catcher during his first four years in the league with the Indianapolis Colts, ultimately catching 103 passes for 792 yards and four touchdowns between 2020 and 2021. He played more of a special teams role after being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2022 but did still show an ability to catch passes. Despite this new optimism about Hines' recovery and role for the upcoming season, he's still not a very intriguing name in fantasy football leagues. His ceiling is the backup role with pass-catching upside, but his floor is likely No. 4 on the depth chart (and a heavy dose of special teams snaps) once Chubb returns. This uncertainty keeps him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues, where he currently sports an ADP of 526 (134th among running backs).
Nyheim Hines Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) said that he expects to be ready to go for training camp in late July despite having surgery to fix a torn left ACL last August. As long as Hines doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, he will be in the mix for snaps on third downs, especially with Nick Chubb coming off a devastating knee injury of his own last year. The 27-year-old Hines will have a low floor and ceiling, though, in PPR fantasy leagues with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman also competing for backfield touches in Cleveland. The former fourth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has a total of 240 receptions (309 targets) for 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his five NFL campaigns. Hines hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he is "not sure" when running back Nyheim Hines (knee) will practice with the team for the first time. The 27-year-old is rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered off the field last offseason as a member of the Buffalo Bills. Despite that, the Browns signed him to a one-year, $1.15 million deal after free agency began. Since being traded to the Bills in the middle of the 2022 campaign, Hines has rushed for negative three yards and caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Cleveland has Nick Chubb (knee), D'Onta Foreman, and Jerome Ford on the roster. That said, it'd be surprising if Hines has a role in the offense this season, but he could be a factor in the kick return game if he can work his way back from the unfortunate injury.
Free-agent running back Nyheim Hines (leg) is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2023 season with the Buffalo Bills after suffering a major leg injury during the offseason. Hines entered the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft via the Indianapolis Colts, where he was utilized as a receiving back behind Jonathan Taylor late in his tenure. In 72 games for the Colts, he caught 235 passes for 1,725 yards and seven touchdowns. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills at the 2022 deadline but only logged 11 touches for 50 yards thereafter. Hines will need to get past the leg injury, but he's a dynamic kick returner and could be in the mix as a change-of-pace back in Cleveland's backfield when he's fully healthy.
The Buffalo Bills plan to release running back Nyheim Hines (knee) this week, according to a source. Hines most likely will be back for training camp this summer after injuring his ACL last summer, but he'll be doing it with a different team. Hines injured his ACL during a jet-ski accident last July and was forced to miss all of the 2023 season as a result. The 27-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State spent the 2022 season with the Bills and Colts, carrying the ball just 24 times for 33 yards and a touchdown while adding 30 receptions for 241 yards and another score through the air in 16 games (five starts). At this stage of his career, Hines will most likely be competing for a complementary pass-catching role with whichever team he lands with next.
Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines (knee) suffered a significant knee injury away from the team and is expected to miss the entire 2023 season, according to sources. Hines was acquired from the Indianapolis Colts at the trade deadline last year, but he had a small role in Buffalo's backfield in nine games (one start) with only six carries for minus-three yards and five receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown. The 26-year-old's absence for the entire season will ensure more work for all three of James Cook, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray in Buffalo's backfield, especially in the passing game. Obviously, fantasy managers can now scratch Hines off their fantasy cheat sheets before their drafts.
Nyheim Hines
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Browns
