Belichick, Patriots Taking Chandler Jones' Recovery 'Day-By-Day-By-Day-By-Day'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones has hit the practice field twice this week, the first time he's done so since suffering a hip injury in Week 7.
Jones was limited at both Wednesday's walk-through and Thursday's practice session, though it's doubtful he'll suit up Sunday when the Patriots take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick didn't provide much insight to Chandler Jones' return, but brought his usual "day-by-day" response to a whole new level on Friday.
"We just take it day-by-day-by-day-by-day," Belichick told reporters at Gillette Stadium. "I know you guys don'€™t want to hear that, but that'€™s what it is. I'€™m not going to sit here and make something up. Each day we go out there and the player does what he can do and we evaluate it.
"There'€™s no leapfrog where you jump like four or five steps in the process. Each day, what the medical department says, he goes out there and does a little bit more than he did the day before and feels good and there'€™s no setbacks then we bump it up to the next level. If he doesn'€™t, then we stay the same or maybe back it down for a day and try again," continued Belichick. "That'€™s just normal rehab for every player. I mean, the rehab is different but the process is really the same."
Jones was expected to be sidelined for a month, though some reports surfaced that he could miss the rest of the regular season and potentially the playoffs. His return to practice is a good sign that he's making progress in his return, and may return before the end of the season.
In his seven games this season, Jones recorded 4.5 sacks (second on the Patriots behind Rob Ninkovich's six sacks), 26 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He was named the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week following his Week 2 performance against the Vikings, when he sacked Matt Cassel twice and blocked a Minnesota field goal attempt, returning it 58-yards for a touchdown.
Tune in to Sunday's Patriots-Packers game on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on WBZ-TV at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, with Patriots 5th Quarter on myTV38 following the game. The Sports Hub begins coverage at 1:30pm, with three full hours of postgame coverage following the game!
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON