Aug 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; NFL referee Adrian Hill (29) makes a note during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There was a new wrinkle when it comes to NFL injuries in Week 12. On Thursday night, it was a referee who had to be carted off to the locker room.

Adrian Hill didn't leave a primetime tilt between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans after sustaining a big, inadvertent hit or any contact at all. Instead, he was running toward the action after a Bills snap wore down and came up limping and grabbing at his left knee. The game's top official eventually needed help. The home team Texans training staff was happy to oblige, supporting the veteran official on his way to the sideline.

Unfortunately, Hill wasn't able to walk this one off. He was subject to the five words no NFL player wants to hear; "they're calling for the cart."

Hill has been an NFL official since 2010. He's been good enough at his job to be mostly anonymous since then, which includes seven seasons as a referee. Now he'll be known for something more than "the ref who has a master's degree from Johns Hopkins."

We'll have an update on Hill's condition when we know more.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ref injury in Bills-Texans: What happened to Adrian Hill?

Reporting by Christian D'Andrea, For The Win / For The Win

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