"Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder, a team leader whose vocal presence energizes the locker room, has been sent for a second opinion on an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him since Aug. 17.

Crowder was on the sideline of Friday's exhibition game against the Falcons but he wasn't in uniform. He hasn't been spotted since, missing practices Sunday and Monday.

"What we've done is we've just sent him for another opinion right now," coach Tony Sparano said Monday afternoon. "He's not out here today. I don't really want to get into what, who, how or any of those things, but that's what we've done right now. So we'll see."

Sparano, who has been coy about Crowder's injury, refused to rule out the sixth-year starter's surgically repaired right foot as the area of concern."