MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa indeed cleared concussion protocol, as expected this week and announced by coach Mike McDaniel Friday.

And he should have star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in his return. The injuries that have limited Hill and Waddle are not expected to keep them off the field for Sunday’s home game against the Arizona Cardinals, although Hill missed practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable.

“I feel very optimistic and feel good about where they’re at,” McDaniel said of Hill (foot) and Waddle (quadriceps), with Waddle fully cleared to play.

But despite all the good injury news for the Miami offense, now to the bad news: Standout defensive tackle Zach Sieler has been ruled out for Sunday.

Sieler was struck in the eye at Thursday’s practice, which caused him to be added to the injury report.

McDaniel said Friday Sieler won’t be available against the Cardinals, and the injury will require a week-to-week recovery. According to NFL Network, it’s an orbital bone fracture for Sieler.

“It probably looks worse than what it really is, but he’ll be OK,” fellow defensive tackle Calais Campbell said, with Sieler not seen while media was on the practice field or in the locker room.

“It’s a good opportunity for some other guys to step up, but it sucks, because he’s probably been one of our more dominant players, more consistent players, and a guy that really makes everybody else, residually, better around him. It’s a tough loss.”

Dolphins players were not revealing a culprit Friday.

“Do you know who did it?” Miami right guard Liam Eichenberg asked a small group of reporters in the team’s locker room.

“Some would say maybe I did it,” Eichenberg continued, with a hint of mystery as to where he was going. “But I didn’t. … I didn’t really see it. I just know he was screaming covering his eye.

“I mess around with Zach a lot. I told him — you know what? — he can finally be a pirate for Halloween, you know, with the eye patch.”

Hill popped up on the Thursday injury report as being limited with a foot ailment that was not previously hindering him. Hill was not seen during a media viewing portion of Friday drills and was posting on social media during drills.

Waddle has gone through limited practices this week with an ailing quadriceps muscle, but he went through a full day’s work Friday and enters Sunday without a game status designation, good to go.

Tagovailoa is set to play in a game for the first time since the Sept. 12 Thursday night outing against the Buffalo Bills, when he suffered his latest concussion, the third documented one for him since 2022.

The Miami defense, while without Sieler, will have safety Jevon Holland (hand) and edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah (biceps) back in the lineup against Arizona.

Holland and Ogbah both missed last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Two weeks earlier, before the Dolphins’ bye week, Holland exited the game early in New England when he first injured the left hand.

Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou will not play against the Cardinals, ruled out Friday; he has been hampered by a neck injury this week. Fellow cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) has an outside chance, according to McDaniel, after leaving the Colts game and was listed as doubtful Friday.

With Miami hurting at cornerback behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, it could present an opportunity for second-year cornerback Cam Smith to earn playing time in his first week back off injured reserve for a hamstring injury. Holland is also an option to cover the slot in nickel packages — Kohou’s usual role — in three-safety sets.

“Happy for that moment for him,” Ramsey said of Smith. “I can’t wait for y’all to see what he’s about, because he’s a baller. He can do some special things.”

Eichenberg should play through his ailing shoulder that has limited him in practice this week. While the injury report lists him for two shoulders receiving treatment, Eichenberg indicated it’s only his right one that’s ailing.

Since Tagovailoa is still technically on injured reserve, to be activated Saturday before the Sunday game, the team’s injury report lists him as questionable, although he will play.

Backup a mystery

With Tagovailoa ready to start, it remains unclear who will be his backup Sunday afternoon, per McDaniel before Friday drills.

“I’m pretty sure I know who it is,” McDaniel said, “but I want to make sure, after this (Friday) practice, I think we’ll know with absolute certainty. But I need to let the full work week play out before I stamp it.”

This week has been Skylar Thompson’s first as full-go in practice since he injured a rib Sept. 22 at Seattle. At the same time, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley has already been ruled out with an injured right (throwing) shoulder, suffered last Sunday in Indianapolis. The team placed him on injured reserve Friday.

Thompson is an option, as are Tim Boyle and C.J. Beathard, who was signed to Miami’s practice squad this week.

“Whatever decision that is or whatever it is, I’m controlling what I can right now, and just getting better and preparing myself as if I’m going to be the No. 2,” Thompson said Thursday. “I’m just excited to be back and get back on the practice field. That was a tough loss last time I was out there, and it was frustrating. For me, when I face adversity, I want to get back on the field and I want to go attack it. For me, that was tough because I couldn’t do anything. I had to sit on it.”

Beathard has previous experience with McDaniel with the San Francisco 49ers.

“Mike’s awesome,” Beathard said. “I was with him for four years in San Francisco. He was one of my favorite coaches that I’ve played for. I’ve got a ton of respect for him. He’s always been a believer of mine, and I appreciate that out of him.

“There’s so many nuances and new things that he’s added (to the offense). He’s a mad scientist when it comes to offensive schemes, so he’s definitely added a lot of stuff. I wasn’t familiar with the base of the offense, the terms.”

Beathard’s grandfather, Bobby Beathard, was the Dolphins’ director of player personnel from 1972 through 1977, a part of Miami’s two Super Bowl champions, before 22 years as a general manager with the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.

“One of the biggest role models of my life,” C.J. Beathard said. “Obviously, part of the 17-0 Dolphins with Don Shula, the history they made, the Super Bowls they won.

“There’s some funny stories my dad has of playing hide and seek in the facility back then and hiding under Don Shula’s desk.”

Beathard got to meet Shula once before he died in 2020.

Roster moves

With the spot opened up by Huntley’s placement on IR, the Dolphins signed wide receiver Dee Eskridge to the active roster off their practice squad Friday. With Braxton Berrios out for season with a knee injury, Eskridge can help in the return game.

The Dolphins also signed veteran defensive tackle Matt Dickerson to the practice squad. He has played 36 career regular season games, plus six in the playoffs, including two for last year’s Super Bowl champion Chiefs. He presents an option to be elevated this week with Sieler out.

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