Surgery not ruled out for injured Dolphins QB Tannehill.

DAVIE — Miami Dolphins players are still a bit stunned that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is sidelined again indefinitely with a left knee injury. But they’re taking it upon themselves not to let their intensity dip, and that started with Friday’s practice.

“It stinks,” said backup quarterback Matt Moore, who is replacing Tannehill for the time being, “but I thought today was a good practice. Guys were popping around. [It was] pretty competitive, so it was good.”

Safety Michael Thomas said players were good about trying to keep the intensity at a high level.

“You saw a lot of guys, including myself [saying], ‘Hey, let’s keep this energy up. You remember what happened last year,’” Thomas said.

“It was a next-man-up mentality. So a lot of guys stepped up with that today, you saw a lot of guys talking noise, talking as plays were being made and challenging each other, competing. That’s the culture of our team.”

Moore, who was 2-1 as a regular season starter in place of Tannehill last year before losing the wild-card playoff game at Pittsburgh, said he’ll be professional about the situation. Again.

“It’s hard,” Moore said. “As a buddy and teammate, you never want to see that happen. This is part of my role, and I’ve done this before, stepping up and being ready if need be.

“So that’s as much as I know, and kind of the attitude I have moving forward.”

Moore said he’s talked to Tannehill, who was looking out the window of the team cafeteria late in Friday’s practice with his injured left leg propped up on a chair.

“He’s obviously waiting, like we all are,” Moore said. “Nobody knows what’s going on, but he seems to be in good spirits. He was here watching tape [Thursday] with us and hanging out, so it was good.”

Asked what he would say to those who are wondering whether the Dolphins should bring in another quarterback, Moore was diplomatic.

“I would say I’m focused on training camp,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about that. It’s a day-to-day thing for me right now and I’m focused on myself and the guys that are here right now.”

Ted Larsen out with biceps tear

The Dolphins opened up the left guard competition to a host of players now that projected starter

Ted Larsen is sidelined for an extended period with a torn biceps. Among those who got a look with the first team Friday were Kraig Urbik, Anthony Steen, Jesse Davis and Jake Brendel.

Rookie Isaac Asiata, the fifth-round pick from Utah, has been kept with the second team until he learns more about playing in the NFL.

“There’s still a lot I’ve got to grasp,” Asiata said. “It’s like taking a drink from a fire hose.”

Urbik, the eight-year veteran who started the last four games at center last season, started Friday’s 11-on-11 drills at left guard with Steen at center.

Then Steen, a secondyear player who made seven starts at center for the Dolphins last season, got a shot at left guard with Urbik at center, a position the Dolphins hope will be filled by Mike Pouncey (hip) during the regular season.

Eventually, Davis, a firstyear player who was signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad in December, got a look at left guard with the first team, followed by Jake Brendel, a second-year player who appeared in two games for the Dolphins last season.

With Larsen possibly headed to the injured reserve list, it seems likely the Dolphins’ starter at left guard will be among the players on the current roster. But if no one is up to the task, the team could hit the free agent market and/or waiver wire.

The Dolphins have a scrimmage at 11 a.m. today at Hard Rock Stadium and they open their preseason schedule there Thursday against Atlanta.

Moore