DAVIES, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are considering their options after losing Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert to a season-ending right knee injury in Sunday’s 20-16 loss at Detroit.

It was an extra bit of salt to rub in in the wound of losing on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the game’s final 26 seconds.

“Branden has been a great addition to the football team and an excellent representative of the organization,” coach Joe Philbin said after announcing Albert would be put on the season-ending injured reserve list.

“Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game.”

Albert, injured in the second quarter of the Lions game when defensive tackle Andre Fluellen was blocked into him, was arguably the Dolphins’ best player on offense regardless of position.

In the Detroit game, the Dolphins made up for Albert’s absence by shifting rookie right tackle Ja’Wuan James to left tackle, moving left guard Dallas Thomas to right tackle, and inserting left guard Shelley Smith.

Coach Joe Philbin said James will stay at left tackle and Thomas at right tackle for Thursday’s game against Buffalo.

“I would imagine what you saw (against Detroit) is probably what you are going to get,” he said. “I thought those guys hung in there and competed pretty well.”

Making considerations more complicated, left guard Daryn Colledge (back) will be watched closely this week. Colledge, who didn’t practice Monday, missed last week’s game. If he can’t play he’d likely be replaced by Smith, who started at right guard when the Dolphins played Buffalo in Week 2.

If that happens the Dolphins would enter the Bills game with three new starters — James, right tackle Dallas Thomas and Smith.

Obviously, losing Albert is huge.

“We’ve got to have a guy step up and play tremendously the rest of the year,” right guard Mike Pouncey said. “When you lose a Pro Bowl player, an All-Pro tackle, someone has to go into his steps and play the same way at the end of the day.

“I think Ja’Wuan is ready for that task and we’ll have Dallas at right tackle and we’ll be going from there.”

Losing Albert before the Buffalo game is especially trying. James will be going against Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (7.5 sacks), who gives the Dolphins fits. Hughes had a sack against Albert in Buffalo’s 29-10 Week 2 victory over the Dolphins.

REPORT CARD vs. LIONS

–PASSING OFFENSE: C — QB Ryan Tannehill (81.1 passer rating) didn’t have one of his better days. He was inaccurate overall, although he did make some nice throws. The pass protection was so-so, allowing three sacks. The WRs and TEs were also so-so. That adds up to a so-so grade.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: D — RB Lamar Miller (left shoulder) had four carries for 10 yards. Tannehill, good on the read option the previous four weeks, had two carries for 0 yards. RBs Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas combined for 12 carries for 48 yards. It was a rough day.

–PASS DEFENSE: C-plus — QB Matt Stafford (307 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT) threw the game-winner with 29 seconds left, and WRs Calvin Johnson (seven receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD) and Golden Tate (11-109) both had good showings. The Dolphins had one INT and three sacks, which was good. But it wasn’t good enough.

–RUSH DEFENSE: A — The Lions only had 63 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.3 yards per carry). The Dolphins shut down the run and made Detroit’s offense one-dimensional. Unfortunately for Miami, that worked in the Lions’ favor. But the run defense was excellent.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus — Yes, they allowed a 24-yard gain on a fake punt. But they also snuffed out a fake punt, blocked a FG, and Jarvis Landry had two returns for 77 yards. Oh, and K Caleb Sturgis was 3-for-3 including a 50-yards, and P Brandon Fields had a 55-yard punt in the fourth quarter. Nice showing.

–COACHING: B – A nice job, all things considered. Joe Philbin missed two days of practice attending his father’s funeral and coaches had to shuffle the OL after LT Branden Albert went down. They had the team ready, but the players didn’t make the plays. That reflects on the coaching staff.