Lex Hilliard playing for the Miami Dolphins. Courtesy photo
The wear and tear of professional football has landed Kalispell native Lex Hilliard on the shelf in the weeks leading up to the upcoming NFL season.
Hilliard, who signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets in the offseason, will undergo season-ending surgery next week after fracturing his shoulder blade, according to several media outlets. He reportedly suffered a broken scapula in practice yesterday.
The former Flathead Brave has missed both of the Jets’ preseason games due to other lingering injuries and was battling for the fullback job with rookie Tommy Bohanon.
Hilliard played in 12 games and started nine last season for the Jets, rushing eight times for 31 yards and catching four passes for 23 yards. He’s also made a name as a solid member of the special teams.
Since graduating from the University of Montana and being drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, 29-year-old Hilliard has become a journeyman in the league. He spent four seasons in Miami, appearing in 48 games for the Dolphins as a backup running back and special teams player. Last year Hilliard bounced around with short stints with Minnesota and New England before landing in New York.
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