Tyreek Hill, the star wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, found himself in a bit of trouble just hours before the team’s season opener on Sunday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hill was detained by police around 10:50 a.m. ET, just two hours before kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Hill was “slammed to the ground” and handcuffed for about five minutes. Despite the commotion, Hill, who had a stellar 2023 season leading the league in receiving yards with 1,799 and tying for the lead in touchdowns with 13, is expected to play in the game.
The incident took place outside Hard Rock Stadium, where Hill was caught on video being handcuffed by multiple officers. Schefter shared footage showing Hill on the ground in handcuffs. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Hill was cited for reckless driving and a seatbelt violation after a verbal altercation with police. He was handcuffed, cited, and then released once the situation was deescalated.
The Dolphins addressed the situation in a statement, noting that Hill was briefly detained but had been released and would be available for the game. Several teammates, including defensive end Calais Campbell, who also ended up being handcuffed briefly, supported Hill during the incident.
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, described the situation as “mind boggling” but confirmed that Hill was okay and would play in the game. If Hill were unable to play, Jaylen Waddle, another key receiver for the Dolphins, would likely step up as the primary target for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle, who has consistently exceeded 1,000 receiving yards in his NFL career, along with Malik Washington and Braxton Berrios, would see increased roles in the offense.
The Miami-Dade Police Department has since announced that an officer involved in Hill’s detainment has been placed on administrative leave, and Director Stephanie V. Daniels has called for a review of the incident, including body-cam footage.