The Carolina Panthers enter their Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins at a crossroads. They are 1-3 with nowhere to go but up. They are also facing a dangerous opponent who'll be brimming with confidence after seeing off the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
Fans were concerned about the speed of Miami's offense and how Carolina's lackluster defense might struggle to cope. This outlook took a seismic shift when prolific wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating injury.
Hill went down after catching a football near the sideline, and it immediately looked concerning. If you're one of the lucky ones to have avoided watching the replay, you should continue to do so. This was nothing short of gruesome, and it came as no surprise to see the All-Pro get carted off.
Carolina Panthers won't be facing Tyreek Hill in Week 5 after brutal injury blow
The Dolphins took Hill straight to a nearby hospital for further testing. Adam Schefter from ESPN revealed that, in addition to a dislocated knee, the wideout also tore several ligaments, including his ACL. He'll now undergo surgery and is done for the season.
This is a significant blow to the Dolphins. Hill and the franchise have faced their share of problems in recent months, but he remains an integral part of the team's offensive strategy. He's an elite player — one of the few who can change the course of any game when in the mood. Mike McDaniel now has another massive headache to overcome in his quest to alleviate speculation about his job prospects moving forward.
Injuries are always brutal when it comes to the NFL's true stars. Hill is one of those, but this extremely unfortunate setback for the player has improved Carolina's chances of getting a morale-boosting victory at Bank of America Stadium this weekend.
The Dolphins are coming off a short week. They will now be without one of the game's most electrifying playmakers. That won't guarantee success for the Panthers, primarily if head coach Dave Canales' squad performs as it did against the New England Patriots, but not having Hill causing them sleepless nights doesn't hurt.
Everyone wishes Hill well during what is sure to be a long road back to full health. His story is a rags-to-riches one, emerging as a fifth-round afterthought into a dynamic force who could end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. The five-time All-Pro won't be throwing in the towel just yet, but it's going to take significant resolve to get back to anything like his old self.
The NFL is a cruel, violent business. Hill is the latest big-name player to find out why.