Waddle, Mostert again miss practice. Where things stand with Dolphins injuries. And notes

Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) did not practice on Thursday, raising doubts about their status for Sunday’s game against visiting Buffalo (8:20 p.m., NBC).

Both missed the Baltimore game because of ankle injuries.

Mike McDaniel said Waddle would take practice reps this week if he was deemed able to. To this point, he hasn’t been able to. At least Waddle was walking around without any visible limp in the locker-room on Thursday.

Mostert’s status remains in question primarily because of the ankle injury that is limiting his ability to make cuts.

In other news, receiver Tyreek Hill was given a personal day after a fire inside his Southwest Ranches home on Wednesday. An ankle was also listed on the injury report for Hill, but he has played through that injury.

Cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) missed practice and is not expected to play on Sunday. Bradley Chubb (season-ending ACL injury) also missed practice; he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve yet.

Ten Dolphins were limited on Thursday: running back De’Von Achane (toe/ribs), linebackers Jerome Baker (knee; remains on injured reserve) and Duke Riley (ankle) and David Long (knee), safety Jevon Holland (knees) and offensive linemen Lester Cotton (hip), Terron Armstead (ankle/knee/back), Austin Jackson (oblique), Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle) and Robert Hunt (hamstring).

Defensive lineman Zach Sieler practiced fully after missing Wednesday with an illness.

Hunt and Achane offered some insight on their situations on Thursday.

Achane said his rib injury isn’t an issue and he will play through it.

HBO’s Hard Knocks showed video of Achane in a walking boot last week. He said he has been wearing it early in the week, in recent weeks, while dealing with a toe injury.

“After the game it might be a little sore,” he said. “So I wear it early in the week and then I take it off to practice at the end of the week.”

As for Hunt, he sounded optimistic about returning Sunday.

Asked if he intends to play against the Bills, Hunt said: “Of course I want to play Sunday. Taking it one day at a time, see how it goes. I feel good. Whatever is needed of me, I will do. I’m excited to play the game the way I like to play the game. I’m excited to be back on the field.”

After playing all 17 games the past two years, Hunt missed two games and barely played in a third before playing 42 snaps and re-injuring the hamstring at Washington. He has missed four games since then.

How bad was the re-aggravation? “It was close to the first one. I wouldn’t sit out if it wasn’t anything serious. if I could have played, I would have definitely [gone]. It was something that was pretty, I don’t want to say severe, but pretty intense.

“I heard it pop [against Washington] and I was like, ‘Damn it can’t pop again. For a second, I said maybe it’s scar tissue.’ But I went to the sideline and it definitely wasn’t scar tissue. It was a strain a lot of guys deal with.”

Dealing with the injury has been “very, very frustrating. It [stinks]. It’s a tough thing if you’re not used to it. Credit to the guys up front and doing it at a high level. I’m excited to go out there and play well.”

Hunt has allowed only one sack in 297 pass blocking chances this season.

THIS AND THAT

▪ Long Jr.’s 102 tackles are 28 more than anyone on the team, and he enters Week 18 as Pro Bowl Focus’ top-rated inside linebacker against the run.

“He’s a buzzsaw, tough, physical,” inside linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said. “He’s very locked in; he has got the right demeanor and he brings a toughness to our defense in my opinion. He plays with a lot of passion. He’s an emotional guy; it’s been a joy to coach him that way.”

▪ Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith finished first in an NFL Players Association survey that asked players to rank the best offensive and defensive coordinators.

Though Mike McDaniel calls the plays, Smith helps craft the game plan and is in McDaniel’s ear during games.

Former Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, now with the Carolina Panthers, finished second on the offensive coordinator list, behind Smith.

▪ Armstead and other Dolphins players appreciate the caliber of blocking that tight ends Durham Smythe and Julian Hill have provided.

“Those two are amazing,” Armstead said. “They’re great. They feel like an extra o-linemen when we get a chance to run some plays with them two in the lineup. Understanding the leverage, angles, combination blocks, it’s pretty seamless.”

▪ The Dolphins cannot afford any more of the types of communication breakdowns that led to Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers’ 75-yard touchdown catch against Miami on Sunday.

Eli Apple and Duke Riley malfunctioned on the play.

DeShon Elliott was visibly angry after that play and said Monday “I want to apologize for my frustration on that play. I shouldn’t be showing that type of frustration on the field, but I did. It shouldn’t happen. But it happened. We’ll get it fixed. We’ve gotten it fixed. We’ve just got to move on.”