Colts: Nyheim Hines’ muffed punt halted first half momentum vs Dolphins

The Indianapolis Colts had plenty of shiny, objectionable problems to distract them entering Sunday’s Week 4 battle in Miami.

The possibility of a Jacoby Brissett revenge game loomed large. Quenton Nelson’s IR stint felt like a distraction. Of course, there was the fundamental desire to avoid a doom-spelling 0-4 start.

Amid all these possible permutations of trouble, the Colts probably didn’t even entertain the idea of Nyheim Hines bringing his freshman-year fumble problem back.

Aided by an “illegal use of hands” penalty, a swarming Indy defense — that heard all the talk this week — shut down Brissett before he could make any of his patented magic happen, and earned the ball back with the chance to make an early statement on the road.

Hines, unfortunately, muffed the Dolphins’ bizarre-looking punt, immediately deflating any gathered momentum.

The Colts’ season continued on its current trajectory. If it can go wrong, it will — and quickly, too.

Colts RB Nyheim Hines’ muffed punt was a disaster against the Dolphins.

Of course — of course  — in the week where Indy had to manage Jonathan Taylor’s knee soreness and Marlon Mack’s trade request, their third running back actually became the problem once Sunday’s game began.

Hines brought a fumbling issue to his initial preseason with the team, putting four balls on the ground before his career even began. In his regular-season career prior to this season, though, he’d limited that to only two fumbles.

He encountered a problem, worked hard to correct it, and reversed course in an extremely impressive way. This isn’t in his blood anymore…and yet, on Sunday, when they needed momentum most, there were the ghosts.

Yes, Taylor eventually busted off a big run. Yes, Indianapolis finally broke onto the scoreboard at the tail end of a troubling first half.

But when things can go wrong for this team, they typically do go wrong. Hines’ muffed punt turned what could’ve been a dominant first half into a dog fight.

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