Associated press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — It was uncertain whether Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill would be available Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Not only did he play, Hill ended the longest touchdown drought of his NFL career with the 23-15 win at Miami.

Known for his explosive gains, Hill reached the end zone on a 1-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter, giving the Dolphins (3-6) a 17-6 lead. Hill had gone seven games without scoring after catching a touchdown in the season opener against Jacksonville, when he also had a season-high 130 yards on seven receptions.

“I didn’t know that, which is crazy, man,” Hill said. “Yes, it’s a blessing to be back in the end zone. Man, I’m grateful to be part of this team. However I can help this team, I’m all about winning. It doesn’t matter if I score, man. It’s about winning. It’s important to be able to do something special between these guys.”

Hill was questionable due to a torn ligament in his wrist. He missed two days of practice last week and Tagovailoa said the team wouldn’t know if Hill could play until Sunday night.

Fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. however, was confident that Hill would be there.

“I mean, I don’t feel like he wouldn’t play, injury or not,” Beckham said. There’s no way he wouldn’t be on Monday Night Football when we’re in a must-win situation. So just because he can do that, score, he knows how much he means to this team, so we appreciate him.”

Hill finished with three receptions for 16 yards. It was his second-lowest performance as a pass catcher this season, following one grab for 8 yards in Week 7 in Indianapolis. Hill added 11 yards rushing on two carries.

That statistic didn’t detract from what is on track to be Hill’s least productive season since his rookie campaign in Kansas City in 2016. He now has 37 receptions for 462 yards and two touchdowns, a sharp decline after rushing for at least 1,700 yards in each of his first two seasons with Miami. He previously played six seasons with the Chiefs.

The 30-year-old Hill has had at least 1,200 yards receiving in each of the previous four seasons. He led the NFL with 1,799 yards and 13 touchdown catches in 2023 and agreed to a restructured contract with more guaranteed money in August.

Much of this season’s decline can be attributed to Tagovailoa’s extended absence due to a concussion. But Tagovailoa said there was no pushback from Hill or Jaylen Waddle to try to make up for those numbers since returning in Week 8 against Arizona, especially against a Rams defense that played mostly conservative pass coverage.

“Coming into this game, they could have easily said, ‘Dude, just keep throwing the ball even though they’re in a two-high shell,’” Tagovailoa said. “But those guys are in it, man. They’re just in it to win.”

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