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Tyreek Hill says drops against 49ers were a result of lack of practice reps with Tua Tagovailoa

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Tyreek Hill says drops against 49ers were a result of lack of practice reps with Tua Tagovailoa
Sport

Sport

Tyreek Hill says drops against 49ers were a result of lack of practice reps with Tua Tagovailoa

2024-12-23 10:51 Last Updated At:11:00

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tyreek Hill has not shied away from accountability during one of the least productive seasons of his nine-year career.

After a poor performance in Miami's 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Hill was candid about the reason for a puzzling decline in his connection with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season.

“I feel like at the end of the day, I need those valuable reps with Tua,” Hill said. “Those vet (veteran) rest days are starting to show.”

It's common for NFL teams to give veteran players days off during the week, especially toward the end of the season when injuries seem to pile up.

Hill has missed three practices over the past month for either rest or personal reasons, including this past Wednesday for what the team called rest/wrist. He has played through a wrist injury all season and was questionable entering Sunday's game.

“There’s always pros and cons with any sort of rest," coach Mike McDaniel said. "Shoot, I want every player to play 100% of the practice snaps at full tilt every week. You have an imperfect formula of trying to figure out how to rest guys and what does best for their body.

"I think the adjustment to getting more reps with Tua, that’s an easy one. You know what I’ll do? I’ll say, hey, get more reps, and then they’ll do it. But it’s the communication aspect, and you hate for guys to feel like they’re not properly tooled in any sort of situation. So you just adjust off that and make sure we get better from it, not worse.”

Hill caught just 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown and had several drops, including one on third down that went through his hands on Miami's opening drive.

“I completely blame myself for not getting my head around and not seeing the ball,” Hill said, “because if I see a ball, we’re talking cross-court, 70-yard touchdown."

Tagovailoa and Hill also couldn't connect on two potential touchdowns. The first was tipped by a San Francisco defensive back just outside of Hill's grasp, the other was a drop that Hill again attributed to a lack of reps.

“One thing I learned from Coach (Andy) Reid whenever I was in Kansas City,” Hill said, “I was blessed to be able to play under such a great head coach, is you can’t just show up on Sunday. You’ve got to be able to prepare yourself Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, even Saturday. Then when it’s Sunday, it’s easy."

Hill is on pace for his least-productive season since 2019 with Kansas City, when he had 58 receptions, 860 yards and seven touchdowns.

He currently has a team-high 834 yards receiving, six touchdowns and 70 catches — six receptions fewer than running back De'Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith, who lead the team. Hill also entered Sunday averaging just 57.5 yards per game, his fewest since averaging 37.1 yards his rookie season.

That's a stark decline from last year, when Hill had 1,799 yards, 13 receiving touchdowns and 112.4 yards per game, which all led the NFL.

Hill didn't have Tagovailoa throwing him the ball for four games earlier this season, when the quarterback went on injured reserve with a concussion. Hill saw a huge drop in his production during that span, with just 35 yards per game as the Dolphins averaged a league-worst 12 points.

Tagovailoa agreed after Sunday's game that he and Hill need more reps together.

“That’s the secret sauce to me being able to connect with all these guys,” Tagovailoa said. “You guys see Jonnu (Smith) here, that’s the secret sauce. If we miss a throw, if we’re off on a throw in the team practice we’ll get together in whatever time we have ... and we’ll get those reps made up. Telling him what I see and then him also telling me how he feels with running it. That has a lot to do with reps for sure.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) catches a pass for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) gives him a push during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) catches a pass for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) gives him a push during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) is unable to catch a pass as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) is unable to catch a pass as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Seahawks' loss to Vikings sends their playoff chances tumbling

2024-12-23 10:32 Last Updated At:10:40

SEATTLE (AP) — For the Seattle Seahawks, there is now no easy path to the postseason.

According to the NFL, the Seahawks' probability of making the playoffs fell to 24% after Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, who pulled ahead on a late touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson and held on thanks to a game-sealing interception of Seattle's Geno Smith.

Had they beaten the Vikings, the Seahawks could have clinched the NFC West by winning their final two games. Their fate is now out of their hands. The division-leading Los Angeles Rams could eliminate the Seahawks with a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

“Our destiny is not in our hands right now, which is tough,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “But we still have a ton of football to play for. I mean a break here or there, we’re right back in it and we’re rolling.”

Just two weeks ago, the Seahawks led the NFC West by one game and had a better than 50% chance of making the postseason. Now, they are one game behind the Rams, who beat the New York Jets on Sunday for their fourth straight win.

The Seahawks would still have a chance at the division title if Los Angeles loses on Saturday.

“We’ve just got to handle our part, which is win out and then let the chips fall where they fall,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “Hopefully catch a little luck and we can get in there. But, yeah, it’s a tough one.”

Seattle could still win the strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Rams to clinch the division, but the situation that would make that possible is extremely unlikely. It would require San Francisco, Las Vegas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Buffalo to lose out and Denver, Miami, Atlanta and Arizona to win the rest of their games.

The Seahawks fell out of contention for a wild-card spot with Sunday's loss.

They also fell to 3-6 this season at Lumen Field. It's just the third time since the stadium opened in 2002 that Seattle has finished with a losing record at home. That happened previously in 2021 and 2008.

Next up is a Thursday night game at the Chicago Bears, who have lost nine straight.

“We’ve got to win two, but it starts with one,” Smith said. “We’ve got a tough Chicago team on the road. I know their record isn’t the greatest, but you watch film on those guys, they’ve got a tough team with a lot of talent. So we’ve got to be ready coming off a short week, traveling on Christmas. Guys got to get their minds ready to go.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a 14-yard touchdown pass ahead of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a 14-yard touchdown pass ahead of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws while pressured by Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws while pressured by Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald answers questions during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Vikings won 27-24. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald answers questions during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Vikings won 27-24. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) walks off the field after the 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) walks off the field after the 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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