"Franchise left tackle Jake Long has been taken off the NFL's physically unable to perform list and has begun practicing with the Miami Dolphins.

Long, who has been battling left knee soreness since last season, has missed all of training camp and the Dolphins' first two exhibition games. Saturday evening's practice was the first session he worked with his teammates because he was medically cleared to participate.

However, coach Tony Sparano seemed hesitant about the prospects of Long playing in the Dolphins' final two exhibition games.

"I didn't really have practice, preseason games in the mix. ... If he plays in a preseason game or he doesn't play in a preseason game, it won't matter to me," Sparano said. "He's out here playing against Cameron [Wake)], [Jason Taylor], and [Koa] Misi, and that group of guys each day, and those heavy defensive linemen, he gets [a better] workout in something like that. I'm not going to panic one way or the other on that situation."

"It was definitely tough," Long added, "but I had to keep my head in it and just study the offense and be a leader whenever the guys asked me and whenever I was out there.""