Cleveland Browns agree to deal with running back/return man Nyheim Hines
The Browns have been looking for the ideal return man. They may have just found him, assuming he can return to his pre-injury form.
Former Buffalo Bills running back/return man Nyheim Hines has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with the Browns, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report.
Hines missed all of this past season after suffering a torn ACL after getting hit while riding a jet ski last July. The Bills released him earlier this month.
When healthy, Hines has been outstanding returning kicks an punts. He's averaged 25.5 yards on 32 career kickoff returns, and 11.4 on 89 career punt returns, with two touchdowns each.
Hines also worked with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone while he played in Indianapolis from 2018 until he was traded to the Bills during the 2022 season. While with the Colts, he averaged 11.8 yards on 73 punt returns and 20.2 yards on 13 kick returns.
The 27-year-old former fourth-round pick also has been a multi-faceted offensive option. Hines has 240 career catches for 1,778 yards and eight touchdowns, while also carrying it 306 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hines spent half a season playing under new Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey while Dorsey was in the same position with the Bills. However, he was used much more in the return game than on offense, with just 11 total touches in nine regular-season games.
Hines' best season may have been 2020 with the Colts, when he had career highs in catches (63), receiving yards (482), receiving touchdowns (four), rushing attempts (89), rushing yards (380) and rushing touchdowns (three). That season, he also led the league with 30 punt returns for an average of 10 yards a return.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns agree to deal with running back/return man Nyheim Hines
