Getty Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (#87), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (#10), and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (#15).
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered another pregame injury in Week 18.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill hurt his heel during pregame warmups for the Chiefs’ game against the Denver Broncos in the regular-season finale. However, Kansas City opted to not announce it as an injury, according to the ESPN broadcast.
ESPN sideline reporter says Tyreek Hill hurt his heel during warmups. Chiefs haven’t announced it as an injury, however. He was on the field at times during opening drive but started second drive on the sidelines.
Despite it not being listed as an injury by the team, those watching the Chiefs-Broncos game could tell Hill’s heel was clearly bothering, as he was shown lipping on the telecast on several occasions.
Tyreek Hill is clearly not at 100% after injuring his heel during pregame warmups.
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This is the second week in a row this has happened to a Chiefs player. In Week 17, starting left tackle Orlando Brown suffered a calf sprain prior to the Chiefs-Bengals game. Brown did not play in that game, however.
Fans Blast Chiefs on Twitter
The game was close, and the 28-24 win over Denver helped Kansas City get one step closer to re-claiming the No. 1 seed in the AFC. However, the choice to keep Hill in the game despite clearly being hurt was troubling for fans who expect to see the Chiefs make an extended playoff run. That’s why those same fans took to Twitter to question and/or criticize the defending AFC champions.
“Tyreek Hill is playing hurt. The Chiefs had better be careful with him,” Robert Thompson wrote.
“@cheetah is clearly hurt why are the @Chiefs playing him??” wrote Chrissi.
“The Chiefs’ handling of Tyreek Hill is incredibly bizarre,” Matt Verderame of FanSided wrote. “If he’s hurt, rest him. If he’s not, play him. Don’t play the middle.”
The Chiefs’ handling of Tyreek Hill is incredibly bizarre. If he’s hurt, rest him. If he’s not, play him. Don’t play the middle.
“I know the Chiefs need to win to have a shot at the 1 seed but I don’t know why Tyreek Hill is in the game right now man…” wrote Take The Cake.
I know the Chiefs need to win to have a shot at the 1 seed but I don’t know why Tyreek Hill is in the game right now man…
“Go ahead, Chiefs. Leave Tyreek Hill out there and get him injured for the playoffs,” wrote Broadcast Media Rick.
Go ahead, Chiefs. Leave Tyreek Hill out there and get him injured for the playoffs.
“Andy Reid NEEDS to make the decision to hold Tyreek Hill out for the remainder of this game. He has a noticeable limp,” Ray Juray III wrote.
“Chiefs need to take Tyreek Hill off the field and put him in bubble wrap for the playoffs,” Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star wrote.
Chiefs need to take Tyreek HIll off the field and put him in bubble wrap for the playoffs.
“I don’t think Tyreek Hill needs to be in the game if he’s dealing with an injury. The #Chiefs NEED him for the playoffs,” Stephen Serda of Arrowhead Pride wrote.
I don’t think Tyreek Hill needs to be in the game if he’s dealing with an injury. The #Chiefs NEED him for the playoffs.
“If I were Andy Reid I wouldn’t have Tyreek Hill in this game,” Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk wrote. “He’s obviously hurting and having him healthy in the playoffs matters more than any contribution he can make today.”
“Why is Andy Reid keeping Tyreek Hill in the game? he’s clearly banged up… why risk further injury to your top WR?” NFL reporter Dov Kleiman wrote.
Why is Andy Reid keeping Tyreek Hill in the game? he’s clearly banged up… why risk further injury to your top WR?
“Tyreek Hill is clearly hurt. And Andy Reid has him still out there knowing they’re going to the playoffs this makes no sense in a game that is meaningless,” Power Play Sports News Chris Jones wrote.
Tyreek Hill is clearly hurt. And Andy Reid has him still out there knowing they’re going to the playoffs this makes no sense in a game that is meaningless.
Hill Unlikely to Return to Game
In the second quarter, the broadcast announced that Hill would “unlikely” return to the game. However, Hill was spotted late in the third quarter catching a fourth-down pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a pickup of two yards. But he didn’t see the field very much, if at all, after that play.
Tyreek hill comes in for a guaranteed 1st down then goes back to the bench to rest his injury 😭😂
After the game, head coach Andy Reid detailed Hill’s injury as a “sore” heel.
Andy Reid said Tyreek Hill had a “sore heel” that led the team to hold him. Says other than Darrel Williams’ toe, the Chiefs can out of the game relatively healthy. #ChiefsKingdom