FOXBORO -- Dion Lewis is eligible to begin practicing this week, but is he ready?
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during a conference call on Tuesday that the dynamic running back, currently on the physically unable to perform list, "probably" would not practice, even though the window during which players on PUP can begin practicing is now open. Belichick noted that Tre' Jackson, also on PUP, was in a similar boat and might need some time before he was back to participating with his teammates in practice.
Players who begin the season on PUP must sit out the first six weeks of the season. After that period, they have a six-week window to begin practicing.
Whenever players on PUP do begin practicing, their teams then have three weeks from their first practice to activate them to the 53-man roster. Under that scenario, a player could begin practicing during Week 12 at the latest, then be activated during Week 15. If a player doesn't practice, or if he's not activated within three weeks after he's started practicing, he must be placed on injured reserve or released.
Both Lewis and Jackson have been spotted in the Patriots locker room recently, and Jackson has actually taken part in warmups with teammates during practices. Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer is also on PUP, and though he has been at the facility, he has not been spotted by reporters in the locker room.
In Lewis' absence, the Patriots have turned to James White as their primary sub back. In Sunday's win over the Bengals, White caught all eight of his targets, including two for touchdowns.
"He was great again," quarterback Tom Brady said after the game. "He’s been such a dependable, consistent player for our team, and the role that he’s been has been spectacular. I can’t say enough great things about James as a player, as a person, as a teammate, his work ethic, his attitude. He went to Wisconsin, that’s about the only thing bad about him."