During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Miami Dolphin players were upbeat and optimistic about the upcoming 2017 season. The biggest question surrounding the Dolphins heading into training camp is the health of former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey.

Last season, Pouncey played in only five games as he suffered a season-ending hip injury. During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Pouncey did not take part in practices with other players. He did participate in individual drills with trainers on the side.

Despite Pouncey suffering his second major hip injury since 2014, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase appeared to be confident that the seven-year pro would be ready for the regular season.

“He’s really improving,” Gase said during mandatory minicamp. “We feel like we’re on a really, really good track right now and we’ll wait to the next doctor’s visit when we get kind of that report back and see what our next step would be. Or did anything change? Better? Worse? We’re just trying to really focus on the steps that the doctors have us right now. He’s done a good job of not trying to push ahead and say ‘Hey, I’m a fast healer and I’m tough.’ We all know that.”

As Pouncey turns 28 on July 24, the 2017 season is a pivotal one for the three-time Pro Bowler. He has yet to play a full 16-game season since 2012, which was Pouncey’s second year in the league.

According to a Miami Herald article released in May, Pouncey may not play in any preseason games and it makes a lot of sense. Another significant injury could spell the end of Pouncey as an elite center in the NFL. Miami needs Pouncey ready for their September 10 season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and not for their August 10 preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

“The biggest thing for us is we need him healed because that’s really what it is, it’s time,” Gase said. “He wants to be out there but it’s no good if we only get him for a couple of games. We need him for the duration.”