Dolphins say Mike Pouncey (hip) will miss rest of preseason

ByJames Walker ESPN logo
Sunday, August 21, 2016

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will miss the rest of the preseason with a left hip injury, and there also is concern if he will be available for the start of the regular season, head coach Adam Gase said Sunday.

Pouncey was injured in the first half of last Friday's preseason loss against the Dallas Cowboys. However, Pouncey reentered the game and finished the first half. Pouncey did not practice on Sunday.

"I don't want to put a timetable on it, but there is a possibility," Gase said of Pouncey potentially missing the regular-season opener Sept. 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. "If things change for us and we get some kind of diagnosis where they tell us there's a longer period of time than we originally thought, it could happen."

Gase added that the team must take the "next man up" approach until they get more clarity on Pouncey. The Dolphins have several replacement options at center. Backup Anthony Steen briefly replaced Pouncey in the second preseason game and could be the leader in the clubhouse. Jamil Douglas, a 2015 draft pick, is another option.

Pouncey had offseason surgery on the right side of his hip during the offseason, which is opposite of this recent injury.

"We're going to be week-to-week right now," Gase said. "We're still kind of feeling out what's going on. We're working with the doctors, trying to make sure when he comes back he's ready to go. So right now he obviously won't be playing in the Atlanta game. Most likely we won't see him the rest of the preseason."