One of NFL’s fastest players has ‘no power’ in one injured leg, casting doubts on 2026 season
Aside from Tyreek Hill’s off-the-field issues with his local partners, the elite sprinter is also known for his speed. But two surgeries since dislocating his left knee in September 2025 have changed that, at least for now.
“The leg I injured is my left leg,” Hill said in a YouTube video titled “The Cheetah Runs Again” posted Wednesday. “I have no strength in my left leg. I’m trying to get all the strength back in my left leg,” he continued.
It’s obviously not ideal for an NFL wide receiver who relies on speed and quickness to be working primarily on one leg 10 months after an injury.
TYREEK HILL ACCUSED BY 250 POUND ONLYFANS MODEL OF BREAKING HIS LEG, THEN CARRYING HER ON HIS BACK FOR SEX
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) walks off the field after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 7, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
That’s why no team signed Hill this offseason, even though the Miami Dolphins released him after 2025 and he becomes a free agent.
But Hill shows his trademark optimism in the video, discussing his approach to rehab and suggesting he’s hopeful about a return to the NFL.
“I’ll keep matching, dog. You know what?” Hill said. “The timeline is looking, I won’t tell you what my timeline is, but the timeline is looking really good right now, man.”
An NFL source said Hill’s timeline is to return to the league before the end of this season, preferably with a team targeting the playoffs. This will allow him to perform in the postseason.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game on September 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
But even this goal may be too ambitious.
Founder Dr. “Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee and missed a year and a half, and he’s a quarterback,” David Chao said. Sports Injury Center, Former team physician for the San Diego Chargers and OutKick’s sports injury expert.
“The injury was more than just the ACL. It was a knee dislocation with multiple ligaments. You’re talking about a true orthopedic emergency. And there’s the potential for nerve damage, which to my knowledge has never been reported, and that’s why his leg still has no strength?”
“That’s a Herculean thing for a quarterback to come back in one year. He’s a wide receiver. That’s not going to happen.”
Hill said his recovery required two surgeries, the most recent in February to address his LCL problem.
Hill’s video apparently signaled the first time he ran on the reconstructed left limb, but it included nothing more than a few sprints in his backyard and a run in the pool.
“My knee feels bad, bro. What are you doing today?” Hill said. “You know, they told me I couldn’t walk. And the dog said, ‘Brother, we don’t know what will happen to your future. Look at me now.’
So Hill believes he’s on track to return to the NFL at some point.
Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill looks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the New York Jets on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, file)
But he’s clearly not near the end of his journey. And he clearly knows this.
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“I’m just trying to get my explosion and first step,” he said. “So every time I step back on the court, it’s like nothing is missing.”
This week was just a step towards regaining some strength in his leg.
Follow Armando Salguero on X: @ArmandoSalguero
