Fins & Panthers Have Line Questions On Sunday
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Dolphins need to pull out a victory on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers to keep their playoffs hopes alive. The Fins offensive line is once again in question, but so is Carolina's defensive line.
According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, center Mike Pouncey did not participate in the part of practice that was open to the media Friday morning. Pouncey missed last Sunday's victory over the San Diego Chargers in a game where a patchwork offensive line arguably played better than almost any other o-line combination for the Dolphins this season.
Pouncey was listed with an undisclosed illness last week, and according to James Walker of ESPN, hasn't practice this week.
On the other side of the ball, the strong Carolina defensive line will likely be without at least one starter against the Dolphins.
Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson is not likely to play against the Dolphins on Sunday. Profootballtalk.com reported that it would be a "major surprise" if Johnson played just days after suffering an MCL injury last Monday night against the Patriots.
Johnson had 8.5 sacks through Monday night's game and might have feasted on the Dolphins' poor pass protection.
But, while Johnson is out, Panthers beat writer Joe Person said fellow defensive end Greg Hardy was back at practice on Friday. Hardy has started nine of 10 games this season and has six sacks on the season along with 25 total tackles.
