New England Head Coach Pete Carroll is optimistic for an early return for injured linebacker Ted Johnson. The "Mike" linebacker has been out with a biceps injury since training camp. The team did not put him on injured reserved in hope that Johnson could return by the end of the regular season.
Now Carroll is hoping to have Johnson practicing by early November.
"Ted is encouraged. The doctors are encouraged," Carroll said of Johnson's recovery. "This makes me feel encouraged."
Carroll said Johnson's doctors would like to see the linebacker stay out of practice until mid- to late-November. For a more in depth look at Johnson's rehabilitation, see Paul Perillo's story in the upcoming issue of Patriots Football Weekly, which will come out next Tuesday.
Veteran wide receiver Vincent Brisby and practiced squad player Sean Morey were the victims of practical joke Thursday. While Brisby and Morey were at lunch, a teammate completely covered their helmets with tape.
The prank got a laugh out of several Patriots. So who was the jokester? No names will be mentioned, but it may have been a certain All-Pro tight end whose locker is located across from Brisby and two down from Morey.
