There are some injury questions for the Patriots at wide receiver as they prepare for the start of their playoff run and that’s led them to return to a familiar face for the third time this season.
Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com reports that Austin Collie is back with the team and that he is going to take part in practice on Thursday. Collie played seven games with the Patriots during the regular season, catching six passes for 63 yards.
Josh Boyce has an ankle injury and did not play in either of the team’s final two regular season contests. Aaron Dobson re-injured his foot against the Bills in Week 17 and neither rookie wideout has practiced with the team this week. Left guard Logan Mankins and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard are also out of practice.
There’s been no corresponding roster move announced to make room for Collie on the roster. One of the injured players could be headed to injured reserve or the Patriots could make a different move with safety Devin McCourty likely to return to the lineup next weekend.