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Packers RB Kylin Hill now eligible to return to practice

By Paul Bretl

Aug 28, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Kylin Hill (32) warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Kylin Hill (32) warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Week 4 of the NFL season now in the books, Green Bay Packers running back Kylin Hill is now eligible to return to practice.

Hill has been recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last season during Green Bay’s Week 8 matchup with Arizona. In addition to spending the first four weeks of the regular season on the PUP list, he spent all of training camp there as well.

Prior to his injury, Hill was used sparingly on the Packers offense last season, with only 26 total snaps, 10 carries, and two targets in the passing game.

However, with the Packers’ added reliance on Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon this season, including additional pony packages with both on the field, Hill’s role on offense could increase this season, given his experience in the system and Matt LaFleur being conscious of Jones’ and Dillon’s workload—although don’t get it twisted, Jones and Dillon would still see the bulk of the snaps. Hill would just provide some added reprieve.

In addition to offensive contributions, he was the Packers’ primary kick returner last season when healthy, averaging a pedestrian 19.9 yards per return. That role this season has been filled by Amari Rodgers, who has averaged 20.8 yards per kick return, which is better than Hill’s average from a season ago, but the coverage unit has improved, and it’s easy to see that Rodgers doesn’t have the same playmaking ability as Hill does.

Currently, Patrick Taylor occupies the third running back role but has only seen action on special teams. In three games this season, he has played 29 snaps, most of which have come on kick return and punt coverage units, per PFF ($$). With the roster at max capacity, Taylor would be the obvious cut because the Packers simply aren’t keeping four running backs.

Green Bay has the ability to utilize a 21-day window where Hill can return to practice without counting against the 53-man roster. At the end of those 21 days, the Packers would either have to add him to the roster, place him on season-ending IR, or release him. With that said, if he is not ready at this point to practice, he doesn’t have to return either. The absolute deadline for that is Week 9, as Ken Ingalls pointed out.

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