NFL referee Adrian Hill reportedly avoids major injury after being helped off field on Thursday Night Football
NFL referee Adrian Hill reportedly avoided major injury and his Achilles tendon is intact after getting hurt during Thursday Night Football's Houston Texans-Buffalo Bills game, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. He may be able to return this season, per multiple reports.
Hill was seen running in the end zone in the third quarter while the Bills were in scoring position before noticeably hurting his left leg after planting on the ground. He began limping before eventually being carried off by two members of the Texans staff, not putting any weight on his leg. Hill left the game on a cart and was taken to the locker room.
Roy Ellison, who had previously served as the umpire in the game, transitioned to referee in Hill's place. The rest of the game was played without an umpire, as the NFL only has backup officials available in the postseason.
The umpire's primary responsibility is to watch their side of the offensive line and help with hits on the quarterback from the side they are on. After Hill's injury, Ellison had to watch the entire offensive line by himself.
Hill has been an NFL official since 2010 and also boasts a career as an aerospace engineer.
The Texans went on to beat the Bills in Thursday night's game, 23-19. The Texans are 6-5 and the Bills are 7-4.