The Sports Xchange

DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey practiced Monday, two days after leaving the Atlanta game with a left knee injury. Pouncey had a MRI on Sunday and said it showed no serious damage, which is a relief to the Dolphins because the oft-criticized offensive line is just starting to show promise.

The best news, however, is Pouncey said he should be ready for the Sept. 13 opener at Washington.

“I’m ready to go,” he said before Monday’s practice.

Pouncey was injured in the first quarter when he was blocking on a pass play and a defender rolled into the side of his left leg. Pouncey left the game for a play, returned, and then left for good.

The injury was especially unnerving because Pouncey, who missed the opening four games last year after hip surgery, knew his twin brother Maurkice, Pittsburgh’s Pro-Bowl center, was recently sidelined with an ankle injury.

“I was nervous going into the MRI,” Mike said, “but it came out good, so we’re good.”

Mike said he talks to his brother every day.

“His mind’s right, he’s ready to get back,” Mike said of Maurkice. “Right now it’s just a healing process for him so he’ll probably miss half the season.”

As it turns out, Monday was a good day for Miami’s offensive line on the injury front.

Left tackle Jason Fox (concussion) returned to practice after missing about a week, and fellow left tackle Branden Albert, the 2013 Pro Bowl selection, said he hasn’t had any complications since beginning practice last week.

Albert is recovering from two torn ligaments in his right knee. There have been conflicting reports on his availability for the Sept. 13 opener at Washington. Albert said don’t believe any of it.

“If you don’t hear it from the horse’s mouth, it’s not true,” Albert said.

Last week Albert said he had to be 100 percent healthy before taking the field. He didn’t care to speculate on that prospect.

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll see,” he said. “I’m going to practice again (Monday) and we’ll see. We’ve got how many days, 13? So we’ll see in 13 days.”

Fox would likely be the opening day starter at left tackle if Albert doesn’t play. Left guard Dallas Thomas played left tackle against Atlanta and did a credible job, according to head coach Joe Philbin.

–Wide receiver DeVante Parker, the first-round pick from Louisville, practiced Monday, which is an encouraging sign. Parker, who had a screw replaced in his left foot in June, said he’s feeling better.

“When I run my foot is feeling pretty good so I’m just glad about that,” he said. “Having no pain in it is a good thing. It’s a start.”

Parker still isn’t sure whether he’ll be ready for the Sept. 13 opener at Washington.

“I’m just taking it a day at a time,” he said. “Whatever the coaches tell me to do is what I’m doing.”

–Miami’s defensive line passed its final test before the season opener by recording and or assisting in three sacks of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in Saturday’s 13-9 victory. Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, defensive end Cam Wake and defensive end Terrence Fede each recorded a sack, and Mitchell and Wake got theirs in the first quarter. The defensive line looks to be among the best in the NFL with its relentless pass rush and the ability to come at offenses in waves.