The Miami Dolphins
Dolphins have plan to keep All-Pro center healthy for season
are trying to protect Mike Pouncey and keep him safe to play.
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins are trying to protect Mike Pouncey from himself.
In past years Pouncey, the team’s Pro Bowl caliber center, has rushed himself back onto the football field, aggressively going through his rehab assignment to get back into the starting lineup.
Sources inside the organization have said that approach has led to Pouncey’s recurring hip issues, which have been existent since 2014, and resurfaced last season forcing the 2011 firstround pick to be shut down after participating in just five games.
The Dolphins have been extra cautious with Pouncey, who underwent a stem cell transplant procedure on the hip this spring, preventing him from participating in organized team activities and minicamp practices. And if head coach Adam Gase has his way, Pouncey won’t be playing in a game until the regular-season opener on Sept. 10.
Problem is, Gase and Miami’s medical staff need to get Pouncey to buy into this “16-plus” program, which is fo-
cused on having Pouncey healthy for 16 regular-season games and possibly the playoffs.
Gase is adamant that he doesn’t need to see Pouncey practice or play anytime soon.
“I know he doesn’t feel that way,” Gase said Tuesday during his pre-training camp availability. “[Pouncey] wants to practice and go through his routine for training camp. I’m always going to listen to him. It’s his body and his mindset. I trust what he tells me.”
However, the Dolphins’ medical staff will also provide their voice once the results of Pouncey’s physical are in. It is possible that Pouncey could begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. The Dolphins will make a formal announcement on Pouncey today or Thursday after consulting with the medical staff.
Pouncey isn’t the only Dolphin whose health remains a concern. Miami placed Koa Misi, who is rehabbing a serious neck injury he suffered last season, on injured reserve.
Misi, who has started 72 games for the Dolphins over the past seven seasons, hasn’t been cleared to participate in physical activity since suffering the neck injury in September. By placing Misi on IR now, he won’t be eligible to play this season.
The loss of Misi leaves the Dolphins fairly thin at linebacker, especially when it comes to experience. But Gase doesn’t seem too concerned.
“I feel better probably than a lot of people do outside of our building. I like our guys. I saw a lot of good things in the spring,” Gase said, referring to his linebacker unit, which added Lawrence Timmons in free agency, and Raekwon McMillan in the draft.
“I feel like we look a lot different than we did last year with, when you get to
the twos and threes, with the competition. I think that there are some guys in there that when we actually get into some preseason games with full pads, I think that we’re going to see [improvement].”
Receiver Rashawn Scott, who broke his foot during OTA practices this spring, will begin camp on the PUP list Gase said. How long he remains on that list will determine if he’s competing for a spot on the 53-man roster or if he’ll be re-evaluated in Week 8 of the regular season.
With Pouncey in the starting lineup last season the Dolphins produced a 4-1 record, but the team is 35-42 overall in games he’s started since 2011.
“Our guys have a good plan for how he should work,” Gase said, referring to the 16-plus Pouncey program.
“He’s done a really good job since the last injury of following to a tee how we should do things. He’s done exactly what the doctors have asked him to do, and that’s age and experience after going through this a couple times. You feel like, “Oh, I feel better and kind of get ahead of schedule. He’s gotten to the point where he’s going to listen to the people telling him what’s best for him. He’s done a good job of that and is seeing good results right now.”
Pouncey’s healthy is critical because he’s got more at stake than his availability during the regular season.
While $2 million of his $7.975 million salary is fully guaranteed this season, next year’s $8 million salary is not. Therefore, Pouncey will need to show he’s still a Pro Bowl caliber player to justify keeping him on the roster as Miami’s fifthhighest paid player.
“He’s doing everything you need to do to show that he’s in good shape, feeling good, and is stronger,” Gase said. “Now it’s the final checkup to see exactly where we’re at. Once we get those results we’ll be able to move forward.”