Baker designated to return. And Dolphins’ McDaniel updates Waddle status, other issues

The Dolphins on Wednesday announced that starting linebacker Jerome Baker, who has missed four games with a sprained MCL, will be designated to return from injured reserve and will begin practicing on Wednesday.

But coach Mike McDaniel indicated it’s not yet clear if either Baker or Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle will play on Sunday against visiting Buffalo (8:20 p.m., NBC).

The Dolphins would win the AFC East and be the No. 2 seed with a win, but would enter the playoffs as the No. 6 seed if they lose.

Waddle missed the Baltimore game with a high ankle sprain. NFL Network has said he is expected to be back for the playoffs, if not sooner.

Could Waddle possibly play Sunday? McDaniel said Waddle did a walk through on Wednesday and “we will take it step by step. He will work with the training staff [Wednesday].

“If all signs are a go, we will give some practice reps a try and see how he responds to that.”

McDaniel said the Dolphins are “prepared to play without [Waddle] but the team also would love [to have him].”

As for Baker, he becomes the eighth and final Dolphins player to be designated to return from IR; teams are permitted up to eight per season.

That means that guard Isaiah Wynn, receiver Erik Ezukanma and running back Salvon Ahmed will not play again this season (including the playoffs).

Baker’s progression through practice this week will determine whether he plays Sunday. The Dolphins have a 21-day period to activate him off IR; Wednesday began that window.

McDaniel addressed other issues during his Wednesday news conference:

▪ On Tua Tagovailoa making all 17 starts this season (presuming he starts Sunday): “It’s significant for the organization, but... it’s significant for the player. He’s understood that you don’t need to be mad at any sort of narrative. You have to understand it.

“He hadn’t stayed healthy for a full season, so he tried to take control of everything he could control and made that a goal.”

▪ Asked why the Dolphins opted not to sign established free agent defensive linemen Frank Clark and Ndamukong Suh: “You consider all things, but... we know and are very happy and can depend on the guys we have. Emmanuel [Ogbah] and Melvin [Ingram] are thirsty for the challenge..

“They’re very much connected. We might have acted differently if we didn’t [think] the team was in good hands with that group.”

▪ Why was Ogbah a healthy scratch against Baltimore after missing the previous week with a hamstring injury?

“He was as eager as anybody to force his hand with a soft tissue injury. He was inactive one week. And then do we press it? Do we allow it to get fully healthy? He was letting everyone know what his mindset was [to play].

“We felt with the practice reps during the week, it was best served for the whole team to have him down. We have depended on him and he’s come through in a bunch of ways all season. He’s tough minded. He’s got his energy focused in the right direction, which is ‘This opportunity is the only opportunity.’

▪ On whether receiver Tyreek Hill has been slowed by the ankle injury sustained against Tennessee: “Generally, he can will himself to do pretty much anything, and most of the the time, he does.

“He’s a fast guy that cuts very violently, so I don’t think people can totally understand the amount of toughness it takes to do what he does. He has done everything the team could ask for and more.”

▪ Asked the advantage of playing this game at home, McDaniel cited “all the natural things that come with being to hear” pre-snap. “Those things are beneficial to a degree.”