Knowshon Moreno returns to practice; Randy Starks as well

The Miami Dolphins are coming off their bye week this pas weekend, and appear to have spent the time getting healthy. Running back Knowshon Moreno and defensive tackle Randy Starks were both practicing with the team during the portion of the practice open to the media, according to South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter Chris Perkins.

Moreno is coming back after a dislocated elbow during the team's Week 2 contest against the Buffalo Bills. On his first carry of the game, as Moreno was tackled, he braced himself with his left arm; a Bills defender then hit the elbow from behind, bending it backwards. The intial prognosis indicated around a four week recovery for Moreno, which would coincide with this weekend's game against the Green Bay Packers.

Last week, Moreno indicated he was potentially still four weeks away from returning, though it was later speculated that the enigmatic Moreno may have been joking about that. If he is back fully practicing, it would appear that speculation was correct.

Starks returns to practice after missing his first game as a player for the Dolphins. Starks last sat out a game in 2007, missing two games with the Tennessee Titans. Since arriving in Miami in 2008, the two time Pro Bowler had appeared in all 99 games, with a streak of 111 straight when adding the second half of that 2007 season. A back injury forced the team to leave Starks in Miami while the team traveled to London last week to face the Oakland Raiders.

How much either player actually participated is unknown. Either, or both, could be still considered "limited" when the official injury reports begin on Wednesday, though the fact that they are back on the field in front of the media should be considered a good sign.

The Dolphins could also see the return of center Mike Pouncey, who had offseason hip surgery and has not appeared in a preseason or regular season game yet this year, guard Shelley Smith, who left the Week 2 Bills game with a grade two knee sprain, and linebacker Koa Misi, who left the team's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots with an ankle issue.

Miami should also see the return of safety Reshad Jones, who missed the first four games of the season as he served a suspension for a positive drug test.

The Dolphins will still be without defensive end Dion Jordan, who has two more games remaining on his positive drug test suspension. The team suspended defensive lineman Derrick Shelby earlier Monday after the third year player was arrested on October 4 for trespassing and resisting arrest at a Fort Lauderdale club.