Dolphins’ McDaniel updates injuries. And Tyreek Hill’s impassioned defense for Tagovailoa

Dolphins cornerbacks Xavien Howard (groin) and Kader Kohou (neck) will practice on at least a limited basis Friday, as they work toward trying to play on Sunday in Philadelphia.

“There weren’t any setbacks” during either player’s limited participation in Thursday’s practice, coach Mike McDaniel said, declining to speculate on whether they will play in the Eagles game (8:20 p.m., NBC).

With regard to Howard, other Dolphins with groin injuries have missed at least a game this season, but Howard is trying to see if can play and be effective. He sustained the injury last Sunday against Carolina. Howard didn’t practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. Kohou was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

As for cornerback Nik Needham, he has been limited in practice all week as he makes his way back from last October’s Achilles tendon injury.

The Dolphins must activate him next week for Needham to be eligible to play this season; McDaniel was non-committal about whether he would be activated before the Eagles game, noting it’s a “roster situation we have to be calculated with.”

As for Howard, Kohou and Needham, all three “will play very soon,” McDaniel said. “If it’s Sunday, they will be ready to roll. If not, they will be ready to roll the following week. All are progressing at various speeds.. Will see how today [Friday’s practice] goes and how they’re feeling.”

McDaniel noted all three are “established players” and the ability of established players to play in a game after being limited in practice is “different than guys not as long in the tooth.”

Rookie cornerback Cam Smith, who could get snaps on Sunday if Howard and/or Kohou cannot play, is “getting better,” McDaniel said.

As for center Connor Williams, he has missed two of the past three games with a groin injury but said he’s optimistic about being able to play Sunday.

“That’s even trickier than the corner situation because we’re dealing with the residuals,” McDaniel said. “Connor will make sure whatever he does, it’s with the big picture in mind.”

Also, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel returned to practice Friday after an illness sidelined him Thursday.

Meanwhile, running back Chris Brooks (who has ankle and knee injuries) was placed on injured reserve. No corresponding move was made, but Jeff Wilson Jr.’s return from injured reserve would make sense. Miami has only two running backs on the 53-man roster (Raheem Mostert, Salvon Ahmed) and Wilson is ready to return.

TYREEK DEFENDS TUA

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill has consistently and passionately defended Tua Tagovailoa against criticism, and Hill’s latest defense was offered this week in response to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith asserting that the Dolphins’ quarterback isn’t MVP-worthy because some of his passes to Hill are short throws.

“I’m sick and tired of people bashing my quarterback for no reason,” Hill said on his “It Needed to be Said” podcast. “I’m sick of it. I’m standing on the table and saying right now, I’m sick of people bashing my quarterback.

“He’s been doing a helluva job this year, and people need to stop giving him crap. A lot of people don’t understand what my dog went through just to get here. What he went through last year, especially. And where he is now, being talked about as MVP, that’s next level. I don’t know too many quarterbacks in this league to do that.”

On his TV show, “First Take,” Smith said this week of Tagovailoa: “All of these passes ain’t for 19, 20, 30, 40 yards. You just got Tua dipping it two yards to him, and he’s the one taking it to the house.”

Smith clarified his comments on Thursday’s show after being faced with backlash from ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky and others who pointed out Tagovailoa’s high marks in various data. He leads the league yards per attempt (9.5) and yards per completion (13.4) and is sixth in average completed air yards (6.4).

“I’m not going to call him a clown,” Hill said. “I’m not going to call him any kind of name. All I’m going to say is, Stephen A. Smith: To me, I don’t really know what to say. But if we would really just watch the game and watch how we play, none of our routes are really two yards.

“Quarterback is the hardest position in the league. You feel me? And for a guy to be even considered for MVP, that’s next level. For Stephen A. Smith to go out of his way to say that Tua isn’t worthy of being the MVP, it’s crazy to me. If you look at all the quarterbacks, except for Lamar Jackson, all the MVPs, they had guys.

“They had receivers to throw the ball to. We know the names. I’m not going to sit up here and name them. Just because a guy’s got talent around him and he’s succeeding, it doesn’t mean that he’s not worthy of being a candidate for MVP.”

On Friday, Smith responded to Hill’s comments, asserting that someone mischaracterized Smith’s comments to Hill and adding: “I wasn’t trying to imply that Tua can’t throw the damn football.”

HILL, WADDLE WEIGH IN

Some notes from Hill’s and Jaylen Waddle’s weekly media sessions with South Florida reporters:

▪ Waddle said “it’s going to be fun” to have multiple key players from Alabama on both teams — including the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith.

“We have a group chat,” Waddle said of former Alabama players. “Mostly our receiver room, everyone who was in our receiver room, so we talk every day. It isn’t really nothing new for us.”

Waddle and he and Smith text each other “like every day, honestly. When they have a game I can watch and we’re not playing, I’ll tune in.”

Waddle received an Alabama “swag bag” recently from the university.

“Yeah, we had the shirts, the hats, the winter gear, beanies,” Waddle said. “They didn’t send us shoes, but we had the whole shebang.”

▪ Hill, on his cramping issues that come up sometimes during games, including last Sunday:

“I’ve been cramping my whole life. It’s something I’ve been dealing with ever since I was in high school. It’s crazy man. It doesn’t matter how much I hydrate, how much fluids I put in my body, it’s just an issue I’ve been dealing with. Obviously, I’ve been looking for ways my whole entire life to deal with it because I don’t want it to stop me or prevent me from being on the field.”

▪ Hill, on Sunday’s game: “I love it. This is what football is all about. Going against a real good opponent, Sunday Night Football, no better stage. I feel like our guys are ready with the way we practiced today.”

What does he expect the environment to be like?

“I’ve played in Philly. Obviously the fans are going to be fans, regardless of who you play against. Some good, some nasty.”