The Miami Dolphins offensive line will likely be at full strength for the first time this season during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans because the leader of the unit is expected to return.
Mike Pouncey, the Dolphins Pro Bowl center, has been sidelined for the past six weeks because of a hip injury he suffered in the preseason. Pouncey, who confirmed he fractured his hip in Miami's exhibition loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 19, returned to practice on Tuesday, and if everything goes as planned, he'll be suited up against the Titans.
"I've been feeling good a long time. It's something we had to be real careful with so we didn't have a setback," said Pouncey, who has had three hip injuries since 2014. "Obviously it's up to coach (Adam) Gase whether I play. I'm looking forward to showing them what I can do."
The Dolphins have had to play with Anthony Steen and Kraig Urbik filling in as the starting center for the first four games, and during that stretch the Dolphins offense has consistently stalled.
Miami is averaging 329.8 yards per game, which ranked the team 26th. The rushing game is averaging 77.8 yards per game, which ranks the Dolphins 29th running the ball, and Miami is last in the NFL in third down conversions, converting just 26.7 percent on those critical downs.
The hope is that Pouncey, and the return of left tackle Branden Albert, who missed the Bengals game because of ankle sprain, can help the offense become more productive, possibly turning the season around.
"It's only four games in. We've got 12 games left. We're looking forward to turning this season around and winning a bunch of games here," said Pouncey, who has started every game he's been healthy enough to play. "Luckily we've got a four-game home stretch. We're looking to play real well these four next games."
The Dolphins have played seven games since 2014 where Albert, Pouncey and right tackle Ja'Wuan James have started and finished a game, and Miami has a 6-1 record in those contests, with the only loss being a fourth-quarter loss to the Green Bay Packers, which sealed the victory in the final minute of that game.
"It's going to be good to have him back," James said of Pouncey. "He's a good leader. He's an intelligent football player. It's his job to make sure we're all in order, and go where we're supposed to go. We all work off of him. ... Knowing he's back, after playing with him, is a good thing."
If Albert and Pouncey are cleared to play Sunday's game against Tennessee will be the first regular season game Miami's projected starting offensive line, which features 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil, is on the field together.
