Mike Pouncey Injury: Updates on Dolphins Center's Knee and Return

Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey left the team's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury. After the matchup, Pouncey vowed not to miss a game, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and he kept his word, taking part in the team's opener against the Washington Redskins.

The Associated Press, via the Bellingham Herald, noted Pouncey left the preseason game in the first quarter, "returned briefly," then went to the locker room for good before the end of the first half. 

Besides Pouncey, the line recently lost left tackle Branden Albert for a couple of weeks with a knee injury, according to ESPN's Adam Caplan, so the team has to be relieved to have Pouncey in the lineup.

In fact, Pouncey himself did not give his unit a ringing endorsement, telling Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald that the offensive line is "obviously" the team's biggest problem.

J.D. Walton is Pouncey's backup at center after coming over from the New York Giants in the offseason. He started 16 games in 2014 for the first time since 2011, when he was with the Denver Broncos, but he was underwhelming and would have been a significant downgrade from Pouncey. Kelly explains that he is part of the problem:

The Dolphins have plenty of offensive talent to make noise in the AFC this year. With running back Lamar Miller and Tannehill poised to have big seasons, the groundwork is set for a dangerous team, but the offensive line still needs to be addressed.

For Miami's sake, it needs Pouncey at the core of that group. With several inexperienced players who have never really proved themselves on the NFL level, a Pro Bowl presence is going to be invaluable for the entire offense if the Dolphins want to see any kind of success. 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com