FOXBORO, Mass. — Brandon LaFell sounds ready to come off the New England Patriots’ physically unable to perform list. Now, the decision to activate LaFell is up to head coach Bill Belichick.
LaFell began practicing with the Patriots on Wednesday, and he’s eligible to return to the 53-man roster and play Sunday against the New York Jets. The Patriots must decide whether to activate LaFell by Saturday at 4 p.m., and they’ll probably wait until the last second to keep the Jets on their toes.
LaFell is ready to go, however, after being kept on the PUP list with a foot injury out of training camp.
“I’m tired of lifting weights. I’m tired of rehabbing,” LaFell said Friday. “I’m ready to get back to playing football.”
LaFell injured his foot at the end of last season and was spotted in a walking boot as late as June. He knew going into training camp he wouldn’t be ready for the start of the season.
“Nah, I knew I wasn’t going to be ready for Week 1,” LaFell said. “I knew exactly I wasn’t going to be ready for Week 1, but somewhere down the road, Week 3 or 4, I thought I would be ready. No need to take that chance when we got guys who can step in and make plays, and I can just get fully healthy.”
Aaron Dobson and Keshawn Martin filled in for LaFell in the “X” receiver role, combining for 15 catches for 196 yards with a touchdown. LaFell is coming off his most productive season as a pro — his first with the Patriots — when he caught 74 passes for 953 yards with seven touchdowns.
If he returns this week, which it certainly sound like he will, he’ll face a tough matchup against former Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis.
“Man, it wouldn’t be helpful to come back against Revis any week,” LaFell said. “That guy, he’s unbelievable, he’s one of the best in the game. I practiced against this guy a lot last year. Even when I was healthy, it was tough t0 go against him.
“It’s going to be a battle. He knows my game, I know his game, he knows a lot of our players. We’re going to go out there and compete.”
That sounds like a player prepared to go against his former teammate. Ultimately, however, it’s Belichick’s decision, and LaFell might not even know yet if he’s going to play.
“That’s up to Bill, man,” LaFell said. “All I’m doing this week is to go out there and practice and prepare myself I’m going to play this week.”
LaFell traveled with the team to away games against the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts to get back in his comfort zone over the past two weeks, which should be helpful when he makes his season debut.
“Bill allowed me to go with the team, started doing my warmups before the game,” LaFell said. “(I’m) running my sprints and just getting my mind back, focus on the game on Sundays instead of just watching the game. (I’m) looking for other things the defense is giving away, but actually being there with the team, going through walkthroughs, watching film with the team and getting my mind back ready to play. Now that I’m back out on the field, running around, cutting, opening up, being able to run, catch balls, it feels great.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
