Dolphins’ McDaniel updates news on Waddle, Mostert, Hunt, Howard, Tyreek Hill, Baker, more

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill returned to practice on Friday after dealing with the effects of a Wednesday fire at his Southwest Ranches home.

But whether he will have receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Raheem Mostert alongside him against visiting Buffalo on Sunday night remains very much in question.

McDaniel said at midday Friday that Waddle and Mostert -- who did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday because of ankle injuries -- “will get work today and then we will make a determination” on their availability for Sunday.

“I wouldn’t close the door because they haven’t,” McDaniel said.

Both players missed the loss in Baltimore because of the ankle injuries. Mostert is also dealing with a knee issue.

Waddle and Mostert both participated in at least a portion of Friday’s practice. Waddle ran routes and caught passes from Tua Tagovailoa in individual drills.

Asked if Mostert’s injury could linger into the playoffs, McDaniel said:

“You have to make an educated guess with all of the information how much at risk is [him playing] this week going to linger and be a consistent [issue] with the rest of the season.

“He’s going to want to play. You have to watch how he works, get honest feedback and work collectively to come to the best [decision]. It is very tricky. You are not in the game of holding players out.

“You in the game of protecting players from further residual injury. Raheem is going to want to play. We want to make sure we do right by the team and him to not make him vulnerable with educated guesses.”

With Sunday’s game (8:20 p.m., NBC) set to determine the AFC East title, McDaniel said: “It’s very important to accomplish a goal discussed April 17, which is winning the division. We are very fortunate to have one game that if you win, you win the division, which is how it should be.”

Meanwhile, there’s good news on the linebacker front.

David Long Jr. and Duke Riley, both limited this week with injuries, will play Sunday, McDaniel said.

Linebacker Jerome Baker’s practice week “went well for him,” McDaniel said. “We need another day with no setbacks.”

McDaniel said he is “optimistic” about Baker also being available Sunday, after missing four games with a sprained MCL. But Friday’s afternoon practice is important in terms of how his body responds.

If Baker is activated off injured reserve this weekend, he could fill the roster spot of linebacker Bradley Chubb, who is out for the season with a torn ACL but hasn’t been moved to injured reserve yet.

Meanwhile, McDaniel said he’s “optimistic” right guard Robert Hunt will play Sunday “barring any unforeseen setbacks” Friday. Hunt essentially has missed seven games this season, including four in a row, with a hamstring injury.

As expected, cornerback Xavien Howard was ruled out for Sunday with a foot injury but hopes to return for the first playoff game, according to McDaniel.

McDaniel addressed other issues during his Friday news conference:

▪ He gave a substantive answer on Hill’s ordeal this week, which included him leaving practice Wednesday after learning of the fire at this home:

“It was wild. We’re on the field and then word files through [the media relations director and director of team security]. You don’t know what that means. You know his house is in flames. Fearing the worst, he leaves practice. It’s hard to not think about what he is going through.

“In my 20s living in Houston, I had my apartment robbed. There was a feeling of violation. Your home is burning and you go back and see it and there is a loss there. Yes, thankfully there is insurance. But it’s not as easy as that.

“It’s life adjustment immediately. It’s your safe place, your home. He’s dealing with insurance and living in a different spot in the immediate future and all of that.

“It’s a major stresser for sure. Reek has the support of his family and teammates. It’s not something you wish upon anyone. It’s definitely scary. Happy for the health [of Hill and his family], but definitely a burden. He will lead his family through it.”

McDaniel said Hill was “happy to be back” with the team on Friday.

▪ On Tua Tagovailoa and five other Dolphins making the Pro Bowl: “To have Tua [make it] a year after everyone was questioning whether he would even be healthy for it [is great].

“What Tyreek, Terron Armstead, [Mostert, Alec Ingold, Tagovailoa and Jalen Ramsey] have done for this team is huge. There could have been a couple other guys for sure. Very happy to have those guys acknowledged in that way. That’s part of the vision you have when you are trying to win football games and take your football team to another level.”

▪ On the fact that a tie would earn the Dolphins the division title and whether that would affect his coaching on Sunday night: “That might come across the radar way down the line in decision-making. I’ll cross that bridge much, much later.”

The Dolphins would earn the No. 2 seed with a win or a tie on Sunday. Miami would be the sixth seed and open the playoffs at Kansas City if it loses to Buffalo on Sunday.

▪ Chubb had knee surgery this week and “it went very well,” McDaniel said.

He’s out for the season, and typical ACL recovery times could cause him to miss the start of next season.