Bill Belichick leaves door open for Dion Lewis, Tre’ Jackson return to practice
On Tuesday of Week 7, all NFL players designated to the PUP list at the beginning of the season became eligible to return to practice. One a player is removed from the PUP list, the team has 21 days to elevate that player to the active 53-man roster.
Speaking to the media on a conference call a week ago, Bill Belichick spoke pretty definitively when suggesting Patriots running back Dion Lewis and offensive lineman Tre’ Jackson “probably” wouldn’t return to the practice field last week. Lewis was later spotted in the locker room without any bracing on his knee, and during this week’s Tuesday morning conference call, Belichick was far less pessimistic about his players returning to action.
Bill Belichick, unlike last Tuesday, leaves door open for starting the clock on PUP players tomorrow. Nothing decided at this point, though.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 25, 2016
Yes, we’re reading a little too much into Belichick’s non-statement. But considering Belichick’s history of revealing his hand regarding player injury status and overall health, the fact the longtime coach would neither confirm nor deny at least leaves the door open for Lewis and Jackson’s returns to practice in Week 8.
