MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Miami Dolphins pass rusher Cameron Wake has been sidelined the past two games because of a surgical procedure he had done to his injured knee.
Wake, a five-time Pro Bowler who is playing in his 10th season with the Dolphins, had been experiencing knee pain since Week 2. ESPN was the first to report the surgical procedure, which was likely a scope that will sideline him three to four weeks.
Wake, who has contributed 12 tackles and one sack in the four game's he's played this season, could return as early as next Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions.
The Dolphins would benefit from his return considering Miami's defensive front has been decimated by injuries. Charles Harris, who started as Wake's replacement last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, was sidelined for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears because of a calf injury he suffered in Friday's practice.
Harris' calf injury further depletes a unit that was already playing without Wake and William Hayes, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Oakland Raiders.
However, the Dolphins did get Andre Branch back for the Bears game. Branch, who has started 37 games during his seven-year career, replaced Wake as Miami's starting left end on the opposite side of Robert Quinn. Branch has missed the past two games because of a left knee injury.
The Dolphins used Jonathan Woodard and Cameron Malveaux, two players recently promoted up from Miami's practice squad, as the backups for Quinn and Branch
