Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill returns to practice Thursday following ankle injury

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins could have their star playmaker on Sunday after all.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since injuring his ankle against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14.

Hill, who did not play in the Dolphins’ win against the New York Jets, was sidelined from practice on Wednesday. But head coach Mike McDaniel said it was not indicative of Hill’s availability for Sunday’s Christmas Eve showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

“We won’t have Tyreek practice today (Wednesday) and that’s not any indication of left or right, it’s more of us trying to make sure that we have all cylinders go,” he said.

Hill was previously listed as questionable with an ankle injury and did not practice at all last week after he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while being tackled against the Tennessee Titans last Monday night.

Hill told reporters after the game that he was in a lot of pain and couldn’t move and change directions like he normally would.

The All-Pro receiver leads the NFL with 1,542 yards and 12 touchdowns and entered Week 15 on pace for the first 2,000-yard receiving season in league history.Hill, who missed his first game as a Dolphin since being traded to Miami before the 2022 season, was seen participating in individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media. He was running full speed and cutting as he caught passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The man they call “Cheetah” needs to average about 153 yards per game over the final three games to achieve the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season.

The Dolphins (10-4) will host the Cowboys (10-4) from Hard Rock Stadium at 4:25 p.m. A win would guarantee a playoff spot for the Miami Dolphins.