Tyler Herro’s Injury Woes Continue, and So Does the Heat’s Search for Stability
Tyler Herro came into this season with momentum and motivation. After suiting up for a career-high 77 games last year, the Miami Heat guard was hoping to build on that durability and consistency in a pivotal contract year. But so far, the 2025-26 campaign has been anything but smooth.
Herro has missed 20 of Miami’s first 26 games, first recovering from offseason ankle surgery and now dealing with a stubborn toe injury that just won’t go away. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter sat out the team’s first 17 games, then returned for a brief stretch before being sidelined again-missing three of the last four contests.
And according to Herro himself, the toe still isn’t cooperating.
“It hasn’t really gotten better,” Herro said Wednesday. “I tried to warm up and I just wasn’t feeling right that night.”
That “night” was Monday, when he was a late scratch. He’s now focusing on controlling the swelling and inflammation before making any decisions on how to proceed.
In the meantime, Herro’s been undergoing tests and treatment. He had his second MRI in under two weeks on Tuesday and received a Toradol injection to help manage the pain.
The diagnosis? A right foot contusion.
It’s not the worst-case scenario, but it’s clearly something that’s lingering longer than anyone would like.
Still, Herro isn’t shutting things down. He’s traveling with the team for their upcoming three-game road swing, which starts Thursday in Brooklyn. His hope is to return during that trip-or, if not, sometime during the next homestand.
“I just got to rest it and calm it down until I get back to normal,” Herro said. “I’m going on the trip, so I’m hopeful that I’ll be back at some point on the trip. If not, then hopefully the week at home.”
When he has been on the court, Herro has looked sharp offensively. Through six games, he’s averaging 23.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a steal per game.
He’s shooting an efficient 50.5% from the field and 40.5% from deep on 6.2 three-point attempts per game. That’s his lowest volume from beyond the arc since his second season, but the efficiency is hard to argue with.
The bigger issue has been his fit in Miami’s evolving offense-and his defense, which has long been a work-in-progress. While Herro has had flashes of solid on-ball and off-ball defense, consistency remains elusive. And on the offensive end, his playmaking hasn’t quite clicked in the Heat’s new-look system.
The Heat have dialed back their use of ball screens, which has directly impacted Herro’s role. He was Miami’s most frequent pick-and-roll ball handler last season, and that’s where he’s most comfortable creating. Without those reps, the rhythm just hasn’t been there.
That’s the challenge for Herro-and for Miami. The longer he’s out, the longer it’ll take to find that rhythm. And for a Heat team that’s already dealing with lineup instability and rotational flux, every missed game makes it harder to build cohesion.
Herro’s availability-and his ability to adapt-will be key to Miami’s hopes of steadying the ship. But right now, the priority is getting him healthy. Until then, the Heat will continue to search for answers on both ends of the floor.