MIAMI – The Miami Heat are coming off the All-Star break looking for another shot and a turnaround in the season, the team is going to get some big help in the return of Tyler Herro. As rumors swirled about Herro's Heat return, he spoke for the first time about his recovery after missing the last 15 games due to a rib injury.
It has been a disappointing season for Herro, as he has missed 45 games due to myriad injuries, coming off an All-Star and career year in 2024-25, playing in only 11 contests. He missed the first 17 games of this season due to offseason ankle surgery, then missed 13 more games due to a toe injury, with the most recent issue being what Miami listed as "Right costochondral; rib injury."
Herro returned to practice on Thursday and was fully engaged in the session, which undoubtedly opens the door to a return on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or Saturday vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. Although he wouldn't commit to a return on Friday, he told ClutchPoints, "I'm feeling really good, just like last year."
The 26-year-old also talked about how "unique" the injury was, noting how he had three ribs broken, and while he played three games with Torodol shots, which manage the pain, it wasn't a season-long plan.
“It was unique,” Herro told ClutchPoints. "Once I found out what it was, it was just a matter of resting and letting my body heal. There wasn't anything I could magically do to heal my ribs; I had three, broken ribs. So my ribs were hurting a lot, just doing normal lifestyle, things I couldn't do, so there was no way I could play basketball. I played the first three games of Torodol shots, and it was good, but I was like that for the rest. Couldn't. Season, so it was just a matter of letting this thing cool down.
Tyler Herro speaks after returning to practice (fully) after missing the last 15 games due to a rib injury. Will travel with the team, but not sure whether he will play tomorrow or not.
Talked about recovery, their disappointing season, Norman Powell being an All-Star, etc. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/FX13kYtkCE
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026
The Heat's Tyler Herro on his injury-filled season
While there were concerns between Herro and the Heat regarding injuries, Starr is hopeful that the final 26 games will end well and healthy, expressing that there is not much discomfort now. It was bad enough that he was having trouble getting out of his bed, as Herro put it, but it has progressed to the point where he can walk "perfectly" in the way necessary to play basketball.
"Yeah, it's been real, really frustrating," Herro said on his injury-filled season. "Obviously, as a competitor, somebody who loves playing the game more than anything, that's what I do. Obviously, this is what I do for a living, but I love the game of basketball, so it's hard for me to just sit out and not be able to play. It's never easy for me. So happy to be back here, it's been a tough year for me... so I'll just try to stay healthy and play some good basketball the last time I've been here." I will try.” Months."
It remains to be seen what Herro's role looks like upon returning, after recovering from a toe injury, he played the first game off the bench to recover from that injury, then came into the starting lineup. Either way, it's "exciting" to have Herro back with the team, as head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed the same sentiment.
“See how he reacts when we get to Atlanta,” Spoelstra said. "But it was very exciting to have Tyler out here in practice. You know, he's done everything he's needed to do over the last few weeks to prepare for this. And it's exciting to have him back in the mix. We're all excited about it."
Erik Spoelstra talks about Tyler Herro's return to practice and how "exciting" it was to see him socializing with the team.
As Herro said earlier, I'm not committed to him playing tomorrow. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3f1kwQ37we
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026
At any rate, Miami is 29-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as they travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
