MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was back on the practice field Thursday, a positive sign toward his availability for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hill, despite the injured left ankle that didn’t allow him to suit up last Sunday against the New York Jets, appeared to cut well in a limited glimpse at him in positional drills.
Hill was given the opportunity to work out on the field at Hard Rock Stadium before the Dolphins’ 30-0 win over the Jets to determine if he could play, but he ultimately found it best to sit out after the ailing ankle caused him to miss half of the Dec. 11 loss to the Tennessee Titans and be in and out of the lineup once he returned.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who doesn’t address the media on Thursdays and is scheduled to speak ahead of Friday’s practice, said Wednesday Hill missing the first practice of the week was no indication toward his status. He already called him “pretty close” to playing last Sunday against the Jets.
If Hill needed any fuel to motivate him to play, Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons threw a playful jab at him with Dallas reporters Thursday: “Tyreek knows I am faster than him.”
Also back at Miami’s Thursday practice as limited participants, after missing Wednesday’s session, were left tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard and running back De’Von Achane. Fellow tailback Raheem Mostert was seen at drills, but his participation did not qualify for a limited designation on the team’s injury report.
Howard, who missed the game against New York, appeared to be limited in his torque when going through defensive back drills as he tries to return from a hip injury. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback indicated he should be good to return to game action for Sunday against the Cowboys.
Armstead, Mostert and Achane all played against the Jets. Achane has a toe injury, and Armstead and Mostert both have knee and ankle ailments, with veteran rest also playing a role in Mostert missing Wednesday drills.
While Armstead is on a decent track and center Liam Eichenberg is working through his calf injury for another practice week, the Dolphins’ right side of the offensive line still is in dire straits.
Right tackle Austin Jackson missed his second straight practice after making an early exit in the Jets game with an oblique injury. Robert Hunt, the right guard, still has not returned to practice with his hamstring ailment that has caused him to miss five of his last six starts.
Kendall Lamm would likely be Jackson’s replacement if he can’t play. A guard combination of Lester Cotton and Robert Jones would again be in order with Eichenberg now the team’s starting center since Connor Williams went down with a torn ACL in his left knee. Cotton popped up on the Thursday injury report for a hip ailment but still went through a full practice.
Safety DeShon Elliott has made further progress in the later stages of concussion protocol, no longer wearing a red jersey at Thursday drills and listed as a full participant.
Remaining limited Thursday were: Safety Jevon Holland (knees), outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (oblique/nose), tight end Durham Smythe (ankle), cornerback Kader Kohou (hip), defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring) and cornerback Cam Smith (hamstring).
The Cowboys had guard Zack Martin (thigh), tackle Tyron Smith (back) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle) miss a second consecutive practice. Safety Malik Hooker improved to limited participation after missing Wednesday’s practice.
The Ramsey shadow
Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio decided to have cornerback Jalen Ramsey follow the Jets’ top wide receiver, Garrett Wilson, once Howard was ruled out.
Wilson was not targeted the entire first half, had the first throw that went his way batted away by Ramsey, and ended up with three receptions for just 29 yards later as the Dolphins just dipped into soft zone coverages or once Ramsey exited the 30-0 blowout.
“He played real well. He really did,” Fangio said of Ramsey. “He got challenged a few times on some tough routes that he answered.”
It was something Fangio and cornerbacks coach Sam Madison knew Ramsey could do from his previous experience, although he hadn’t done it much in Miami.
“He’s done it before. X has done it before,” Madison said. “You have veteran players of that nature, that magnitude that can handle that type of pressure.”
Ramsey said, after the game, he was often bored from the lack of passes going his way.
Madison’s coaching on that front: “At some point in time, they’re going to come your way. And when they do, you’re going to have to make them pay.”
With Howard out, Eli Apple was back in the nickel package as a boundary cornerback, when Kader Kohou, who started for Howard, would move inside to cover the slot. The starting safety combination was Brandon Jones and Elijah Campbell as Holland and Elliott were out. Jones came down with two interceptions.
