The Miami Dolphins placed Mike Pouncey on injured reserve Tuesday, ending the Pro Bowl center's 2016 season.
The Dolphins waited a month to see if Pouncey's hip injury would improve, hoping he could play in the remaining three AFC East games.
Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, rehabilitated with the team's trainers and saw a specialist on a weekly basis, but league sources say it was determined that playing him at this point could risk his long-term health.
Pouncey has had three hip surgeries since 2014, and a fracture he suffered in the preseason forced him to miss the first four games of this year. He re-aggravated the same injury during practice preparing for the Nov. 20th game at Los Angeles Rams.
At this point it is undetermined if Pouncey will need offseason surgery.
Anthony Steen will likely continue to serve as Pouncey's replacement, starting his eighth game of the season against the New York Jets on Saturday night.
Placing Pouncey on IR cleared a spot on the 53-man roster for veteran quarterback T.J. Yates, who was signed on Tuesday. Yates will serve as the backup to Matt Moore while starter Ryan Tannehill recovers from the sprained left knee ligaments he sustained in Sunday's 26-23 victory over Arizona.
Pouncey joins the list of key Dolphins players on injured reserve, a list that includes strong safety Reshad Jones, (shoulder), tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) and linebacker Koa Misi (neck).
