Michigan sophomore Jon Horford, who averaged 2.7 points and 3.6 rebounds through nine games before injuring his foot, has returned to practice. Coach John Beilein has not ruled out a medical redshirt season.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Michigan basketball sophomore forward Jon Horford is on the mend, but he's still not ready to help the Wolverines on the floor.

Coach John Beilein said Friday that Horford returned to practice Thursday after missing the team's previous 10 games with a stress fracture in his right foot.

The 6-foot-10 big man will not travel with Michigan to Arkansas (2 p.m., CBS) on Saturday, though.

"He was OK," Beilein said of Horford's first workout with the team since early December. "He showed a lot of signs of not being in the lineup for a while.

"He'll practice again today, but it takes some time."

Though he won't play this weekend, Beilein said there is a chance Horford is available at some point next week for the Wolverines.

Michigan travels to Purdue on Tuesday before playing at Ohio State next Sunday.

For now, Horford is scheduled to remain in Ann Arbor to receive more treatment on the injured foot, while also working on returning to playing shape.

"He rides the bike, he does underwater therapy," Beilein said. "But it's not (as intense as practice)."

While the news on Horford's injury is promising, Beilein says he still won't rule out the possibility of redshirting him for the remainder of the season. Horford has appeared in nine games this season, and should he miss the rest of the year, he'd be eligible for a medical redshirt.

"The minute I put him in the game, I will be telling everybody in the world 'I'm not redshirting him,' " Beilein said. "We'll consider that from now until the end of the season."

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Grand Ledge had been serving as Michigan's primary backup center before his injury. In nine games, he averaged 2.7 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Want to stay connected to Wolverine basketball in your Facebook newsfeed? “Like” AnnArbor.com's Michigan Basketball News & Views.