Nyheim Hines Eyes NFL Comeback After Suffering Knee Injury in 2023 Jet Ski Accident

After two years away from football, former running back Nyheim Hines is hoping to make a comeback.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hines, who suffered a torn ACL in a devastating 2023 jet ski accident, "believes his knee finally is ready for a return to action and he is looking for a new training camp home."

Hines last played in the NFL in 2022, splitting the season between the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a Week 18 win over the New England Patriots, becoming the 11th player in NFL history to record two kick return touchdowns in a single game. In nine games in Buffalo, he racked up 707 total return yards.

After his jet ski accident during the offseason, the Bills placed Hines on the reserve/non-football injury list for the 2023 season and released him a year later. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in March 2024 but didn't appear in a game during the season. The Browns released him in February.

Hines entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick by the Colts in 2018. He's spent most of his career as a third-down back and a contributor in the return game. He has career numbers of 1,202 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns along with 1,778 receiving yards and eight receiving scores. He also has 1,832 career return yards and four return touchdowns.

If he can stay healthy, Hines can bring a veteran presence to a team in need of depth in the backfield or on special teams. He should get the chance to prove himself during training camp later this month as teams gear up for the 2025 campaign.