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DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins starting center Mike Pouncey practiced Tuesday for the first time since undergoing hip surgery back in July.
Pouncey, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season, confirmed that he participated in every drill. But he is leaving it up to the team doctors to determine his status for Sunday's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sun Life Stadium.
"I feel like I can play but it's not my decision," Pouncey said. "I did everything today, just getting back in the groove and it felt good to be back out there with my football team. It feels normal and it just feels good to get back in a stance without it hurting again."
The fourth-year pro had rehabbed all through training camp, the preseason and the first two weeks of the regular season. His progress was such that the team opted to keep him on the 53-man roster after the final cuts rather than place him on the Physically Unable to Perform list in hopes that he could return sooner.
It appears that was a good decision.
Coach Joe Philbin acknowledged the importance of getting Pouncey back on the practice field again.
"It was good to have him out there," said Philbin, who has been going with Samson Satele at center in Pouncey's absence. "He did some things and got up in his stance a couple of times, came off the ball a couple of times on the snap count so it was good to have him back. We're going to take it a day at a time. It was his first day out there and he looked good in what he was doing, so we'll see."
Notes: Running back Lamar Miller also participated in full during the portion of practice that was open to the media, which was important after he was seen with an ankle boot after last Sunday's loss in Buffalo. With Knowshon Moreno expected to miss at least a month with a dislocated elbow, it will be up to Miller, Daniel Thomas and rookies Damien Williams and Orleans Darkwa to pick up the slack. ... Tight end Charles Clay, right guard Shelley Smith and linebacker Koa Misi appeared to be limited at best during the portion of practice open to the media. Clay and Smith were riding the exercise bikes and Misi was standing off to the side.
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