Justin Verlander is still early in the recovery process from core muscle surgery, and general manager Dave Dombrowski said Thursday there is a possibility the right-hander could miss the beginning of the season.

"He's doing great," Dombrowski said of Verlander, who underwent surgery on Jan. 9. "I'm not concerned for him being out an extended period. If he misses any time of the season, it would only be a very short time period. I'm not ready to say that he will. But he's doing very well."

Verlander, who turns 31 in February, aggravated a pre-existing abdominal injury in December while doing conditioning drills. His initial recovery time was expected to be six weeks, and the Tigers anticipated he would be ready to pitch at the beginning of the season.