MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — This is not the question the Miami Dolphins are involved with before another Sunday, of course. They’re involved with the New York Jets, what’s left of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and how to work the mental math of their slim playoff chances to motivate themselves.

But there’s a glaring question about last week to replay as this organization faces big decisions this offseason:

Why wasn’t Tyreek Hill on the field with the night, even the season, on the line for that four-down, goal-to-go series in Green Bay?

It’s not that he was out for one or two plays of that failed series. He was sidelined for all four plays, right from first down at the Packers' 9-yard line. Hill stood on the sideline. Rookie Malik Washington lined up in his place.

You want Hill on the field in the most important plays, because he’s as dangerous as anyone in the NFL — or so the thinking goes. He’s certainly been the most dangerous player on this Dolphins offense the past two years. That’s why you’re paying him more than $30 million and putting up with his regular off-the-field issues.

So, the fact he stood on the sideline during a defining moment of the season while a small-duty rookie played isn’t something to brush off. It’s like the Heat not playing Jimmy Butler, or the Panthers sitting down Aleksander Barkov in a defining moment.

“We’re down inside the red zone and, once we got in there, we liked our heavier personnel group,’’ offensive coordinator Frank Smith said as to why Hill wasn’t in the game. “We just didn’t execute.”

Let’s be honest: The Dolphins don’t really have a heavy personnel group. They’re the worst short-yardage team over the past three years for a reason. Players. Offensive design. The guard play that has the team’s general manager chuckling at media for bringing it up. Everyone has a thought.

On this first down in Green Bay, receiver Jaylen Waddle lined up to the right side and Washington did to the left side. Waddle was in for this full series. Hill watched it all from 50 yards away. All these receivers are roughly the same size as Hill’s 5-10, 191 pounds. So size isn’t a deciding point here.

Another talented speedster, running back De’Von Achane, has become the featured playmaker of this offense. He ran to the 1-yard line on that first down. He would have scored, Smith said, but Washington took the wrong angle and missed the block on Green Bay’s Corey Ballentine, who tackled Achane.

It’s nit-picking to wonder if Hill makes that block. Evidently, he hasn’t done so enough, because he wasn’t in that package. But do you take Butler out of the game because he doesn’t set picks as well as someone on the bench? Do you take pressure off the defense by sidelining your big playmaker?

Your stars have to be in place to decide games — if they’re still your stars, that is. Maybe that’s some of what’s at work here, too. On second down, Waddle, fullback Alec Ingold and tight ends Julian Hill and Durham Smythe were in. They’re the heavy package. Achane ran right for no gain.

Third down? A pass to tight end Jonnu Smith, who had just come in that play, went incomplete.

“Tyreek Hill coming back on the field for Miami,’’ said NBC announcer Mike Tirico said after third down.

Tirico added a second later as Hill returned to the sideline, “Tyreek came out, went back off the field. Change of personnel. Ingold remains out there.’’

So, again, it wasn’t like Hill was forgotten on this series. He wasn’t wanted. Jonnu Smith wasn’t part of that fourth-down package, either. So two of the Dolphins’ top receiving targets weren’t on the field with the season when the Dolphins decided to pass on fourth down.

Tagovailoa went to throw and was sacked.

“The whole sequence could have been executed better,’’ Smith said.

By now, days later, the question isn’t about execution. It’s about designed decisions in this offense and financial decisions coming this offseason. Because this goal-line series was a window into the downsizing of Hill this season either because of two-deep-safety defenses, offensive schemes or maybe Hill’s game.

Will the Dolphins keep spending $60 million on Hill and Waddle when they don’t fully utilize both? When this new, dink-and-dunk offense can’t maximize the talents of its small, speedy receivers in Hill, Waddle and Achane?

The mystery remains Hill. He was the players’ vote last year as the No. 1 player in the league. He had 119 catches for 1,799 yards for a 15.1-yard average and 13 touchdowns. This year he has 55 catches through 12 games for 654 yards and an 11.9-yard average. He caught his fourth touchdown on a deflection late in Green Bay. He was replaced by a rookie in the season’s biggest series.

Maybe approaching age 31 with a lot of football on his body has taken a toll. But has he really dropped from being voted the game’s best player last year to being the Dolphins third receiver with the season on the line?

The repeated line in big games is, “Your best players have to play their best.” The understood part is they have to be on the field. Hill should have been on the field in Green Bay. He should have helped decide that game, for better or worse.

The issue becomes what it all means in an offseason that’s fast approaching.

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