Projo Pats Blog

Tedy Bruschi did return to Patriots practice Wednesday, as expected.

After meeting with reporters in the locker room, Bruschi and his teammates hit the outdoor practice fields for a noon practice. The fields are the same ones the team uses during training camp, a period that Bruschi missed while recovering from the effects of a stroke he suffered last February.

Coach Bill Belichick won't be able to get much of a read on Bruschi from today's workout. The Pats are dressed in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets and won't run hard or hit each other. A similarly light practice is scheduled for Thursday.

''We won't practice real heavily,'' Belichick said before the workout. ''Hopefully we'll take the time (in the team's bye week) to get over our bumps and bruises.''

After extensive stretching with his teammates, Bruschi was involved in a 7-on-7 drill at the start of practice. He did line up with several regulars, including Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork.

Belichick met with another very large media contingent whose focus was clearly trained on the recovering linebacker. He became flustered at times during the half-hour of questioning, but when asked if Bruschi could play when the Pats resume the season Oct. 30 against Buffalo, the coach said, ''Listen, it's day-to-day. I don't have a crystal ball. I won't do a minute-to-minute evaluation. That's not the way to go.''

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

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