How can Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill have a significant heel injury – one which causes him to limp when he walks and prompted him to acknowledge “My foot’s bad” – and still make the huge play he did near the end of Sunday’s victory over the Ravens?

The roll out.

The throw.

The catch.



Let's watch it a couple hundred times more... pic.twitter.com/ETPRXXQTdO — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 10, 2018

Well, not exactly easily. But also without as much difficulty as might be imagined.

The injury appears to be to Hill’s right heel – not at the attachment of the Achilles (like Eric Berry) but on the bone itself.


That takes away Hill’s ability to walk normally because of the pain at heel strike in a normal gait.

It certainly hurts, and the injury to the calcaneus (heel) bone seems significant.

But he is able to outrun defenders for a 48-yard pass completion on fourth-and-nine because the injury is in the heel.

When a wide receiver runs, it is primarily on his toes as he accelerates, cuts and pushes off. These are the special skill sets that make players like Hill different, and they don’t need their heel to exhibit them.


Look at the end of the above play when he goes out of bounds and tries to use his right heel to stop by planting his hind foot into the ground. He can’t do so and instead limps noticeably and slams into the wall.

I have not seen any X-rays or an MRI or examined Hill. Further, there was not specific video of his injury.

However, analyzing the film of the way he walks and runs makes me believe he has a shot to play (and be effective) through the rest of this season – possibly including Thursday’s big match-up against the Chargers, who sit one game back in the AFC West.

Hill will probably limp when he walks and be in pain, but he can still play effectively.


The Chiefs will likely alter the routes he runs. Any stop-and-go or comeback routes, where he needs to plant his right heel, will be difficult. But there are plenty of double-move routes that are made on the balls of the feet. And when one sprints, the heel typically never touches the ground.

The Chiefs certainly need him, with Kareem Hunt gone for the season and Sammy Watkins out for the rest of the regular season.