No injury reports have been confirmed, but Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been widely criticized for failing to try during a Pro Bowl race.
Before racing against Micah Parsons, Nick Chubb and Trevon Diggs in the Pro Bowl, Tyreek Hill declared himself to be “the fastest man on earth.”
To everyone’s surprise, Hill placed fourth in the racewith Parsons taking the title.
Bystanders were amused to see Parsons win the race and Hill come in last, but Parsons did not feel that moment undermined Hill’s claim to fame.
“I know he did not get out there and give his best, he only played a few days ago,” Parsons admitted. “He is the fastest man in the league.”
Although Hill did not say anything that he was injured, a closer look at the race footage indicates that Hill may not have given it his all for another reason. A shaky release, a slow gait and a break in the middle of the race suggest that previous heel and ankle injuries may have prevented him from nailing at full speed.
Was Tyreek Hill injured during Pro Bowl race against Micah Parsons?
While Hill played against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Championship, injury reports threatened throughout January whether he would be able to play in key games or not. Hill was a full participant in practice for the AFC Wild Card Round game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hill left their Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos early with an injury, which later turned out to be an ankle injury.
Hill did not appear injured during the Bills game, when his agility was displayed with three yokes on a sprint to the finish zone.
Hill also looked good during their game against the Bengals, who started the score with a discount in the corner of the end zone.
It all looks distinctly different from his Pro Bowl waste, where Hill apparently jogs and grimaces while running. He also looks at his foot repeatedly, and in his exit to the race he seems to be limping.
Of course, this is all speculation at the moment, but if Hill undergoes injury or rehabilitation to his ankle in the off-season, the Pro Bowl race will definitely be viewed in a different light.
Whether it was due to a lack of effort or injury, it was clear that the Cheetah was not chasing full speed. If he had, Parsons would have seen a sign of peace instead of victory.
