Tyreek Hill couldn’t miss his quarterback’s return.
Although he popped up as a limited practice participant Thursday and sat out Friday before being deemed questionable due to a foot injury, Hill is officially active for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
For the first time since Week 2, he will play alongside Tua Tagovailoa, who cleared concussion protocol Friday and came off injured reserve Saturday to return to the lineup.
Hill has enjoyed tremendous success in the past two seasons catching passes from Tagovailoa while making two consecutive All-Pro teams, but like the rest of the Dolphins, he’s found it tough sledding in the QB’s absence.
He hauled in seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, the only game the two played in full together, and added another 24 yards on three catches before Tagovailoa suffered his concussion in a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Since then, Hill has gone scoreless with Skylar Thompson, Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle behind center. He’s managed just 14 catches and 140 yards combined, with last week’s game against the Colts representing a new low -- one catch for 8 yards.
It’s little wonder, then, that Hill was practically giddy Wednesday ahead of Tagovailoa’s impending return, when the eight-time Pro Bowler told fantasy owners to start him because, “We’re back, baby.”
That was before a foot injury seemingly threatened the reunion.
Luckily, Hill will get his wish, and Tagovailoa gets to shake off the rust throwing to his top target.
They’ll have to click again quickly -- the Dolphins are currently 2-4 and looking up at the runaway 5-2 Buffalo Bills in the division.
Miami’s rejuvenated attempt at an AFC East comeback kicks off against the Cardinals at 1 p.m. ET.