Joe Mixon returns to practice, likely to play against Dolphins

Bengals running back Joe Mixon returned to practice on Wednesday and said he hopes to be cleared for Cincinnati's Sunday home game against the Miami Dolphins.

Mixon missed the past two games after having arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his right knee. In the first two games, he rushed 38 times for 179 yards and one touchdown and caught six passes for 57 yards.

Mixon practised in full pads Wednesday. When asked for a forecast on the second-year back, head coach Marvin Lewis told reporters it was a "bright sunny day out there. The sun is up."

His status for Sunday is undetermined, but Mixon guaranteed that he would be on the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.

Running back Giovani Bernard, who started in Mixon's absence, left the Sunday win against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury and did not practice on Wednesday.

Bernard has rushed 34 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns and has 14 receptions for 78 yards this season.

(With inputs from agencies.)