Danny Amendola Returns To Patriots Practice [VIDEOS]
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots just got a key piece of their receiving corps back. Danny Amendola returned to the practice field for Wednesday's full-pad session at Gillette Stadium, his first action since suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 4.
Amendola's return marks exactly one month to the day since suffering his injury. He appeared to move through his positional drills with ease, which you can watch in the videos below. Amendola appears on track to return to game action for the Patriots in next Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff in Foxboro.
Patriots WR Danny Amendola is back at practice and moves through gauntlet decisively. pic.twitter.com/J0vJTNDKlw
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 4, 2017
Here's Amendola running through a positional drill pic.twitter.com/jAoU7KZOUR
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 4, 2017
Danny Amendola has returned to #Patriots practice. Tom Brady, Malcolm Mitchell, and Cyrus Jones are absent. pic.twitter.com/bOHEaxetnS
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) January 4, 2017
Tom Brady was among the Patriots players who were held out of Wednesday's practice as he continues to nurse a thigh injury. Malcolm Mitchell and Cyrus Jones, who are both reportedly dealing with knee injuries, were also absent. According to the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe, the entire team gets a day off on Friday for the bye week.
As one of the Patriots' most clutch, reliable receivers down the stretch in the past two seasons, Amendola's return is a welcome one. With Mitchell still banged up and Michael Floyd still learning the Patriots' playbook, he is likely to immediately assume No. 2 or 3 receiving duties behind Julian Edelman and/or Chris Hogan.