DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake will be a game-time decision for Thursday night's third preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Wake, who is returning from a season-ending Achilles injury, has yet to play in the preseason but has practiced throughout training camp. This may be the final chance for the four-time Pro Bowler to play before the Sept. 11 regular-season opener, because many veteran starters are expected to sit out the fourth preseason game.

"What we are going to do is, he's going to make sure he goes through warm-ups," head coach Adam Gase said. "He's going to get ready to go, and we're just going to see how he feels before the game. So it's going to come down to really him and myself before the game saying, 'Hey, we're rolling or we're not.' I'm going to kind of put it on him, just because he knows how he feels. Once he feels right, then we'll get him out there."

The Dolphins have been cautious with players coming off of injuries, including Wake, receiver DeVante Parker and others. Gase is taking the approach, for the most part, that it is more important have starters healthy for the regular season than to knock the rust off in the preseason.

Wake recorded seven sacks in seven games last season before getting injured Oct. 29 against the New England Patriots. There are questions whether the 34-year old can regain his form coming off a major injury this late in his career, but Wake isn't concerned.

"No, not at all," Wake said. "I've been old for five years now. Eventually, I guess they'll be right."

Part of Wake's comeback involves trusting that he's 100-percent recovered. Wake said of his Achilles, "I'll trust it when I need to trust it."

The defensive end has made plays in practice, but teammates generally take care of each other in a way that is different from opposing teams in games.

Either way, Miami's defensive line is expected to be a major strength this season. Wake, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Mario Williams have 12 combined Pro Bowls but have yet to play together in a preseason game.

Perhaps that will change will change Thursday night.

"Well, if we were all a bunch of rookies, I think that would be one thing," Wake said of building chemistry with the defensive line. "But we all have a couple grays [in their hair]. I guess I got the most. But we've all been down this road. We've all played football, a lot of snaps and had a lot of success."