The Miami Heat are coming out of the All-Star break with practice on Thursday afternoon, hopefully bringing back a familiar face who could turn the season around. As the Heat are in the midst of an inconsistent season, it has also been a year that has been filled with questions about what the team's ceiling really is, with a plethora of injuries, most notably to star Tyler Herro.
Herro had missed the last 15 games in Miami with a condition listed as "right costochondral; ribs bruised", as more details regarding the injury emerged via the Miami Herald. Herro, who suffered an injury during the team's loss to the Indiana Pacers on January 10, played the next three games with Toradol shots, but an MRI revealed the severity of the injury.
Fast forward to the present, Herro's return to gaming appears to be imminent, or in the words of Anthony Chiang, "in the coming days."
"According to a league source, Herro is recovering from three broken ribs following a buckle rib fracture," Chiang wrote.
Chiang added, "But Herro will make his return soon, as he is expected to participate in Thursday's practice and, barring a setback, return to game action in the coming days."
Heat's Tyler Herro has "determination" to get through challenging season
While the timeline surrounding the Heat guard was unclear for some time, there is no doubt that it has been a disappointing season for Herro, who has missed a total of 45 of 56 games this season, in addition to missing the last 15 games. He was absent from the first 17 games of the season due to offseason ankle surgery, as he then missed 13 contests due to a toe injury, and then rib injuries.
It's been challenging for Herro, but he has the "determination" to get everything done, as head coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated to ClutchPoints on Jan. 31.
"One thing I know about Tyler after spending so many years with him is that he's determined. He's got grit. He fights and focuses on the things he can control... I've always admired that quality of his," Spoelstra said.
No update on Herro, but I would ask Erik Spoelstra about his disappointment in missing nearly 40 games due to myriad injuries.
"One thing I know about Tyler... is that he has determination... Right now, he's getting healthy and they'll get to work..." #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8egipXHHzI
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 31 January 2026
If one thing is for sure, Miami can use Herro's offense to finish with the team 29-27, which would move them into eighth place in the East. Herro could return for the Heat on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or on Saturday when the team hosts the Memphis Grizzlies.
