They’re Back: Brady & Ninkovich Set To Return From Suspensions

Though the New England Patriots are still recouping from there 16-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the team got a double dose of good news Monday. 

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning, both Tom Brady and Rob Ninkovich's suspensions were officially lifted. That means the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback and the defensive captain are both back in the fold and ready to help the team.

Brady, who was of course serving his 4-game suspension for the joke that was Deflategate, is scheduled to step right back into his starting role. Having the All-Pro back under center will surely allow the offense to run at a much higher level than it has through the first quarter of the season.

Coming off of a tough-to-stomach loss to a divisional opponent and heading into a Week 5 match up with one of the league's worst teams seems to be the perfect storm for Brady, and the humongous chip on his shoulder, to send a loud and clear message to the league that he is back and ready to go.

As for Ninkovich, he had been questionable for the start of the season prior to his suspension for the use of a banned substance, after suffering a triceps tear early in camp. There are reports that his injury has healed enough that he could be available to go as early as this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

If Ninkovich is, in fact, healthy and ready to go this week it would add a big boost to a defense that isn't off to the hottest start this year. The defensive end's leadership and versatility along the defensive front has long made him one of the more valuable members of the team and could certainly add depth along a line that struggled mightily to pressure Buffalo this past week.

To officially add both Brady and Ninkovich onto the 53-man roster, the Pats must make one more transaction to get down to 51 players. The team did release veteran tight end Clay Harbor, earlier today.

All in all, Patriots Nation should be extremely happy to have two of the team's top playmakers on each side of the ball back in the fold and ready for the final three quarters of the season.