Adrian Hill, the referee for the “Thursday Night Football” matchup between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, sustained an injury during the third quarter of the game and was unable to continue officiating.
The incident unfolded when Hill was positioned behind the play in the end zone during a Bills punt. As he attempted to run, he suddenly reached for his left leg, indicating a possible injury. Hill’s injury appeared to be non-contact, prompting immediate medical attention. He was assisted off the field, struggling to put weight on his left leg, although he was later spotted standing on the sidelines after his exit.
Due to the severity of the injury, Hill was ultimately carted off the field. He was replaced by the crew’s umpire, Roy Ellison, who took over his responsibilities. This unexpected switch left the officiating team without an umpire for the remainder of Thursday night’s game.
Adrian Hill joined the NFL officiating ranks in 2010 and has been serving as a referee since the 2019 season. Roy Ellison has been an NFL umpire since 2003. The incident highlights the challenges officials face during games and the importance of having a strong officiating crew ready to adapt in case of unforeseen circumstances.