FOXBORO -- The Patriots could use some good news right now as it relates to their offensive skill positions. They got some Thursday.
Rex Burkhead, who was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice because of a concussion, was upgraded to "limited" status Thursday.
Judging by the league's five-step return-to-participation protocol, it sounds as though Burkhead is at least on "Step Four." That includes non-contact football activities like throwing, catching, running and other position-specific activities -- anything not involving contact, including contact with other players or objects like tackling dummies or sleds.
If a player can handle those activities without a "recurrence of signs or symptoms of concussion" and "his neurocognitive testing has returned to baseline" he can move to step Step Five.
Step Five is when the team physician clears a player for full football activity in practice, including contact. If the player gets through full participation in practice and contact without signs or symptoms recurring, the team physician can clear the player for "full participation," meaning game action. Once that happens, an independent neurological consultant must examine the player and confirm the team physician's assessment before the player is considered cleared and eligible to play.
If Burkhead can play, he'd provide some depth to a backfield that needs it. James White is healthy, as is newly-acquired back Kenjon Barner. That's it. Rookie runner Sony Michel remains limited in practice with a knee injury, and Jeremy Hill was placed on injured reserve earlier this week with a torn ACL.
The Patriots are a little healthier at receiver, though very inexperienced. Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett should be good to go in Jacksonville, and both newcomers Corey Coleman and Bennie Fowler are healthy, but it remains to be seen whether or not Coleman or Fowler will be activated for game action.
New England Patriots
At tight end the Patriots aren't at full strength. Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen are fine, but Jacob Hollister continues to deal with a hamstring injury he suffered during the preseason. He sat out Week 1 hurt.