Here’s Who Will Likely Replace Nyheim Hines as Kick Returner

The Buffalo Bills will begin training camp on Wednesday morning. Veterans report back to St. John Fisher University tomorrow morning.

The Bills have quite a few more doubters nationally this season. Despite the fact the roster is as good or better than 2022, the AFC Divisional round loss soured many people on the Bills as Super Bowl contenders.

The Bills are in the AFC, which is loaded with quarterback talent. They also are in arguably the toughest division in the NFL -- the AFC East. It will be a tough slate of games for Buffalo this fall.

Get our free mobile app

The season started off with horrible news.

According to multiple reports, includes NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Bills running back Nyheim Hines is expected to miss the entire 2023 season after suffering a serious but non-life threatening injury in a jet ski accident.

Hines was reportedly sitting stationary on a jet ski, when another jet ski struck him.

The news of the injury made the rounds on Monday morning and left fans wondering who will take Hines' place as the primary kick and punt returner?

The answer to that is most likely veteran wide receiver Deonte Harty.

Harty was signed by the Bills on the first day of free agency back in March. He was an undrafted free agent signing by the New Orleans Saints in 2019. He made the team because of his return abilities, which earned him a first-team all-pro selection in his rookie season.

The problem is the Bills signed Harty with the intention to use him primarily on offense. He will now have to do both, which could detract from his production and put him at risk for injury.

Second-year wide receiver Khalil Shakir is another option at returner, which he did in college, but Harty is more explosive as a player, which likely gives him the edge.