Unfortunately for the Patriots, tight end Jake Ballard started the year on the PUP list. Fortunately for the Patriots, Ballard wasn’t on there long.
Per multiple reports, Ballard passed his physical and exited the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday, which means that he’ll be ready to go when training camp begins on Friday.
The Patriots, who were criticized last year for plucking Ballard on waivers at a time when they had Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez with freshly-minted multi-million-dollar extensions, need Ballard now, desperately.
They also need Gronkowski and receiver Julian Edelman, both of whom remain on the PUP list.
Ballard tore an ACL while playing for the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots.