LBs Joey Porter, Akin Ayodele and defensive end Phillip Merling return to Dolphins practice

LB Porter, 2 other Dolphins return to practice

DAVIE, Fla. — Linebacker Joey Porter and two other injured Miami Dolphins defenders returned to practice Thursday in preparation for their Monday night game against the Jets.

Porter, linebacker Akin Ayodele and end Phillip Merling were all in pads after sitting out Wednesday.

Porter was limited but did “a good amount of work,” coach Tony Sparano said. It was the first practice in nearly two weeks for Porter, who missed Sunday’s win over Buffalo with a sore right hamstring.

“Whenever you’re hurt, you realize how much you really miss the game,” Porter said. “To go out there to run around with the guys and put my pads back on definitely feels better than it did sitting on the sideline watching.”

Merling, who hurt his left ankle in the fourth quarter against the Bills, was also limited. Ayodele returned after being sidelined by a sore back.