The veteran had been placed on injured reserve at the 53-man roster deadline.
After missing the first four games of the regular season, the clock has started for Jahlani Tavai.
The New England Patriots are opening the veteran linebacker’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.
“I expect him to practice, yes,” head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. “I don’t have an update on the game, but he will return to play and practice.”
Tavai, 29, began training camp on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a calf injury during organized team activities in June. But the 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker would be sidelined again in August before being placed on injured reserve at the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
With the calendar now turned to October, Wednesday marked the earliest possible date for the designation to be utilized.
The 2-2 Patriots have carried an open spot on the active roster for the past three weeks. Tavai, who signed a three-year, $16 million contract extension in 2024, is a primary candidate to take it before long.
Tavai’s time in Foxborough, which began on the practice squad in 2021, has brought 44 starts, 64 games, 308 tackles, 3.5 sacks as well as three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one recovery. He has seen 2,378 snaps on defense and 1,075 snaps on special teams over that span.
The former Hawaii standout originally entered the league with the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2019 draft at No. 43 overall.
The undefeated Buffalo Bills host Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
Category: General Sports
