Tyreek Hill eager to face Super Bowl archenemy Eli Apple at Dolphins practices

Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill will be seeing a familiar face at practice this offseason: notorious trash-talker Eli Apple. 

From enemies to frenemies, Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill and newly minted corner Eli Apple will make for quite an exciting training camp matchup in Miami.

Apple joined Miami earlier today on a one-year deal, and he’s expected to fill in as starting-caliber depth while cornerback Jalen Ramsey recovers from injury. He and Hill will waste no time getting to know each other at practice having encountered each other at Chiefs-Bengals matchups from a few years back.

Hill, the ex-Chief, and Apple, the ex-Bengal, were well-known on their respective teams as prolific trash talkers.

Apple’s tendency to rile up opposing fan bases and start drama may have been one reason the Bengals didn’t bring him back this offseason. Instead, he signed with the Miami Dolphins on a cheap deal and will be doing 1-on-1’s with fellow teammate Hill in the coming weeks.

What will the vibe be like? According to Hill himself, it’s going to be “fun.”

Ramsey had to hold back Hill’s arms, telling him to “play nice” with Apple. But given the history that Hill and Apple share, playing nice is just not an option anymore.

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill ready to smoke Eli Apple in practice

Toward the end of the 2021 season, the Bengals defeated the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, raising all kinds of chaos and drama between Apple, an infamous loud mouth, and Hill, who could never back down from a fight.

Hill told Apple, “I owe you”, when the Dolphins played the Bengals last season, a game in which Hill recorded 10 catches for 160 yards.

Now that the two players are on the same team, one would think that the talons would retract and trash-talk would diminish. The Dolphins, after all, are working toward the common goal: making the Super Bowl.

Getting there will require more than just signing Apple. The journeyman defender won’t be a complete stand-in for Ramsey but does add necessary depth in a talented backfield with Xavien Howard, Kader Kohou, and others.

Whereas Apple will have to work his way up the depth chart, Hill’s position as No. 1 wide receiver won’t change. Expect both of them to bring their A-game to practice this summer.