Cleveland Browns Release RB Nyheim Hines After Injury Woes

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have cut running back Nyheim Hines, who failed to take the field for the team following a serious injury. The decision, announced Tuesday, comes after Hines suffered a torn ACL during a personal watercraft accident in July 2023, sidelining him for two consecutive seasons.

Hines, 28, was signed by the Browns to a one-year contract in March 2023 after spending six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills. He was placed on the non-football injury list as he continued his rehabilitation from the July injury. Although the Browns designated him to return to practice in mid-October, they ultimately did not activate him to the 53-man roster before the end of the 21-day practice window.

General Manager Andrew Berry discussed Hines’s work ethic and potential impact. “He put in a lot of time and effort to try to get back. He did everything he could,” Berry said. “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.”

In his NFL career, Hines accumulated 2,980 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns, alongside notable contributions as a return specialist, with two punt returns and two kickoff returns for scores. Despite this, he will leave the Browns without ever appearing in a game.

Last season, the Browns struggled to find a consistent running game, finishing 29th in the NFL with an average of just 94.6 rushing yards per game. Nick Chubb, who led the team in rushing with 565 yards and three touchdowns, dealt with injuries himself throughout the year, raising concerns about the team’s backfield depth moving forward.

Chubb is set to enter free agency, and his future remains uncertain. Berry commented on the situation, stating, “It’s always a challenging situation when one of your cornerstone players’ contracts is up. We love Nick. He’s going to be a Ring of Honor player for us, and we know that. In terms of the short term, we just have to work through this over the next several weeks.”

As fans react on social media to Hines’s release, some criticized the decision simply because he never played a snap for the franchise. Others suggested that he might still be valuable as a veteran minimum signing for teams looking for additional depth at running back.

For Hines, the future is uncertain as he looks to continue his career in the league. Many will be watching closely to see if he finds a new opportunity in the coming months.