Mike Pouncey To Miss 3 Months

The Miami Dolphins will likely enter the 2014 season without their all-pro center, Mike Pouncey. Pouncey underwent hip surgery on Monday according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The injury, reportedly occurred during mini-camp.

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The surgery went well but the average recovery time is three months, and that’s optimistic. More likely Pouncey will not be available for at least three and a half to four months which could land him on the PUP list to start the season. If that happens, Pouncey will not be available until the sixth week of the season.

There is no word yet on who the Dolphins will pencil in to start in his place. Nate Garner has experience playing guard, tackle, and center and could be an early option for the team.  Second year lineman Sam Brenner is also listed on the roster as a center. While Brenner lacks the experience he played very well for the Dolphins last season filling in for suspended left guard Richie Incognito.

Pouncey had the 5th year option picked up last month by the team and is still hoping to get a new contract. Whoever fills in for him on the offensive line could have a legitimate shot and stealing it. For example, if Brenner starts the first month of the season and plays exceptionally well his low price tag could cause the Dolphins to think about moving Pouncey after the season.  The opposite of that coin of course is the Dolphins may realize just how much they need the Pro-Bowler in which case he could get a contract sooner rather than later.

Regardless of the outcome, the Dolphins will need to find a solution to this new problem. The Dolphins already will likely start four new offensive lineman and now it appears that they may be forced to start the season with all of their lineman different from last year.

In other news, Knowshon Moreno has opted to have his knee surgery. It is scheduled for next week and will sideline him until the start of training camp but more likely a couple of weeks into camp.