Report: Miami Dolphins' Mike Pouncey could miss first half of season

Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey's recovery from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip may take longer than the three months originally anticipated, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.

Pouncey had surgery on June 23, and was expected to miss all of the Dolphins' September games. Now, Salguero reports, Pouncey is more likely to miss four months. That would take the center through the first eight weeks of the season.

The Dolphins have a bye the first weekend of October, so that timeline would mean Pouncey would miss seven games.

According to the Miami Herald, the Dolphins' policy is not to comment on players' injuries or recovery periods. In the past, the team has threatened players with fines if they discuss injuries with the media, Salguero notes.

Pouncey will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list. 

More from the Miami Herald:

The best way to gauge Pouncey's recovery at the end of training camp will be to monitor whether the club puts him on the active roster or places him on regular-season PUP.

If the team puts Pouncey on the active roster, he will still miss September's games as he continues to recover. But this will suggest the team is comfortable with him returning sometime before six games are played.

If the team places Pouncey on the regular season PUP this will prove the rehab and recovery from this surgery will extend beyond the initially hopeful three-month recovery period.

Miami will hold its first training camp practice on Friday.

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- Sarah Barshop