All-Pro free agent sends a clear signal to the Packers, and the intriguing message comes at the perfect time
Tyreek Hill is still a free agent working back from an ACL injury, and his latest posts on social media point toward a return.
The Green Bay Packers placed wide receiver Jayden Reed on injured reserve, and he will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury. That leaves Green Bay without its top slot option, and one of the most productive receivers of the last decade just gave two hints that he’s ready to play again.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the team will probably use Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, and J. Michael Sturdivant to replace what Reed does. The offense also has the option to play with more two- and three-tight end sets. But All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill is still available on the open market, and he’s getting closer to a return from the ACL injury he suffered last season.
Hill tweeted Monday, “It’s almost time to get off the couch and get to work.” Then, on Wednesday, a new post seemed more direct toward the Packers: “I think I’m ready for some cold weather.”
A timeline with more urgency in Green Bay
It’s hard to know whether the Packers would actually consider signing a veteran wide receiver at this point. Hill is 32 and coming back from a serious knee injury. Nonetheless, Green Bay has shown a clear willingness to add veterans, both this week and throughout the past few months.
The Packers added offensive linemen Kevin Zeitler, Mekhi Becton, and Laken Tomlinson. They also traded for Kaleb Johnson and Mark Redman right ahead of the regular season, and the front office even signed tight end Jonnu Smith before Week 1. General manager Brian Gutekunst has operated on a different timeline this year, looking for players who can help now.
And that’s because the roster lost a lot of depth this offseason. Romeo Doubs left in free agency, and Dontayvion Wicks was traded away. As a consequence, the wide receiver room is thinner than it had been over the past few years, and Reed’s injury only makes that worse.
Production in a familiar scheme
Hill’s résumé is stellar, as he has been a first-team All-Pro five times, a second-team All-Pro once, and an eight-time Pro Bowler. He has six seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards, and he led the NFL in receiving yards in 2023.
That was his best season in terms of production, with 119 receptions for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, he had 959 yards and six touchdowns. Before the knee injury last season, he played four games and caught 21 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown.
The big aspect is where that production came from. Hill played for Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who runs a relatively similar style of offense to what LaFleur runs in Green Bay. The learning curve should be manageable, at least in terms of concepts and terminology.
Slot fit and the health question
Throughout his career, Tyreek Hill has played 44.1% of his snaps in the slot, and last season he played 41.1% of his snaps there. That’s where Hill could help the Packers the most in 2026, because that’s the role Reed leaves open.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have the versatility to play inside if needed, but both are primarily outside receivers. A player with Hill’s speed and production, who can move around the formation and still take meaningful slot snaps, would fill a specific need rather than just add another body.
Hill has averaged 2.51 yards per route run over his career, and in those four games last season he posted 2.55 yards per route run with a 13.1 average depth of target.
Of course, the Packers would have to evaluate how Hill looks physically. If he’s relatively healthy and still has his natural speed, or at least a decent amount of it, he could replicate much of that production in LaFleur’s offense. A team-friendly deal would also be a requirement for Green Bay to consider the move seriously. Right now, though, the Packers have a reason to at least explore the idea.
