Former Bills RB Is Turning Heads With Career Announcement

The Buffalo Bills are on break until training camp kicks off at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, on July 23.

While one of the biggest offseason storylines followed running back James Cook‘s request for a new contract that pays him $15 million a year, Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t seem stressed over his holdout during voluntary workouts.

“We’re staying in touch,” McDermott told reporters in May, “like you’d expect a player and a coach to do. So, James will be here when he’s ready to be here, and we’ll move forward.”

The Bills enter training camp with an identical running backs room as last season: Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Frank Gore Jr., and Darrynton Evans.

While Buffalo seems set at the position, a former Bills running back, Nyheim Hines, announced his plan to return to the NFL after a two-year absence.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday, July 7, “Nearly two years to the date that he tore his ACL in a jet-ski accident, Nyheim Hines is looking for a chance to play in his first NFL game since 2022, when he returned two kicks for touchdowns in the same game for the Bills. Hines believes his knee finally is ready for a return to action and he is looking for a new training camp home.”

Former Bills RB Nyheim Hines Hasn’t Played Since His Freak Jet Ski Accident in July 2023

Ahead of the 2023 NFL season, Hines was primed to have a big year in Buffalo. After his freak jet ski accident, Hines underwent ACL reconstruction surgery with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and given “roughly a year to recover and be ready for the 2024 season,” NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero reported at the time.

Following his release, Hines went on to sign with Cleveland Browns. Due to issues stemming from his ACL tear, however, he never saw the field.

“He put in a lot of time and effort to try to get back. He did everything he could,” Browns special teams Bubba Ventrone told reporters after Hines was ruled out for 2024 season in October.

“The number one thing for him is his speed and his explosive ability, and he just wasn’t at that spot where we felt comfortable to make the move. So disappointed for him. He would have been a great asset for us to have moving forward, but hopefully things work out in the future.”

Hines spent the summer working out with Stay Ready Performance in North Carolina. While the 28-year-old appears to be in great shape, it’s unclear whether an NFL will take a flier on Hines this late in the offseason. He worked out with the Houston Texans in May but the team went on to sign Nick Chubb instead.

A Return to Buffalo Seems Highly Unlikely for Nyheim Hines

While the Bills love to reunite with former players, Hines returning to Buffalo seems unlikely. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote last month, “I believe they’ll head into the regular season with the same three running backs as last year, too. Cook, Johnson and Davis will be the trio, and all three have their roles within the Bills offense.

“It would be a relatively big surprise if, for non-injury reasons, the running back room was anything but these three. What the room will look like in 2026 is another question entirely, but for now, this group seems like one of the safest bets of the summer.”