NFL referee leaves Bills-Texans game after terrifying non-contact injury

Injuries have devastated NFL teams throughout the 2025 season, and on Thursday night the problem plagued NFL officials during the Buffalo Bills-Houston Texans game.

Head referee Adrian Hill stopped limp during a play on a Texans drive in the third quarter. He was seen in the end zone watching a play develop. As he started to move, Hill grabbed his left leg.

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Referee Adrian Hill on the field during a game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants at Soldier Field on November 9, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Hill was helped off the field and had to be carted to the locker room. Referee Roy Ellison took over as head referee for the remainder of the game.

Hill has been an NFL official since 2010, making his debut on September 12, 2010, in a game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys as a linesman. He was promoted to referee in 2019 after Pete Morelli and Walt Coleman retired.

Ellison is a long-time official and has some controversy related to his NFL career.

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Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (8) is treated by medical personnel after suffering an unknown injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

In 2018, he had a confrontation with Bills defensive lineman Jerry Hughes. The NFL player confronted Ellison in the tunnel after a game between the Bills and the Miami Dolphins. Hughes accused Ellison of calling him rude. Ellison was reportedly fined a game check for the incident.

Both teams also suffered injuries during the match.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen had to leave after being roughed up on a play. Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive back Maxwell Hairston and offensive lineman Dion Dawkins were evaluated for a concussion. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard suffered an elbow injury and was out for the rest of the game.

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The Texans played without quarterback CJ Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre, who were injured.

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