"First Jason Taylor gets traded away and now the Dolphins have opened up training camp without the team's best remaining pass rusher.

Joey Porter, who is projected to start at outside linebacker, sat out the team's morning session with an ankle injury that prevented him from running full speed while working with team trainers.

After practice head coach Tony Sparano confirmed the three-time Pro Bowl selection was played on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but was optimistic the injury, which happened while Porter was training on his own the week before training camp, isn't extremely serious.

"He needs rehab. He's not quite ready yet," Sparano said of Porter, who contributed 65 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and two interceptions last season.

Last year Porter, 31, missed all but a week of training camp after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He sat out the exhibition season but played in every regular season game.

Sparano said Porter's absence will give the coaches a better opportunity to examine Rob Ninkovich and Junior Glymph, two veterans previously considered long shots to make the 53-man roster."