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Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert is taking a cautious approach to his recovery from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in November.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Albert was limping, but walking without assistance at a team charity event on Friday night and that doctors are optimistic about his chances of being ready to go for the start of the season. Albert stopped well short of making any guarantees, however.

“I hope I’ll be able to play the first game; I just don’t know,” Albert said. “We’ll see.”

Albert signed with the Dolphins before last season and he was providing the team with exactly the kind of play they were hoping to get on the left side of the offensive line after a disastrous 2013 up front in Miami. Losing him knocked things back a bit toward the end of the season, underscoring how important it is for the Dolphins to have him back to speed in time for Week One.