"On the long list of Things The Miami Dolphins Really Don't Want to Ponder At This Point In Their Existence, No. 1 just might be: Life Without Jake Long.

Not to be alarmist, but the franchise left tackle was missing from Wednesday morning's practice. Lydon Murtha, last seen letting two Patriots blow past him for a blocked field goal, worked in his place as the Dolphins tried to make the most of their shortened bye week.

One postgame report had Long ducking to the X-ray room at Sun Life Stadium. It's unclear if Long's left knee - first injured in the final preseason game at Dallas - is the problem this time, but it was bad enough to get him listed on the injury report last week.

Also sitting out today's practice were rookie right guard John Jerry (illness), who took mental reps in T-shirt and shorts; rookie defensive end Jared Odrick, who rode the bike and worked with trainers as he works back from that fractured fibula; and a new entry to the Tour de Davie, fellow defensive end Lionel Dotson.

Channing Crowder appeared to be working in a limited manner. He sat out linebacker coverage drills, for instance, so his return from this nagging groin injury remains in question."