Patriots RB Lewis On Schedule To Join Team Prior To Season

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis was off to a hot start last season, before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the second quarter of a Week 9 win over the Washington Redskins. 

Since then, the fifth year back out of Pittsburgh has had surgery and worked to rehab his repaired ligaments, in hopes of returning to form for the 2016 season.

A report from ESPN Patriots Insider Mike Reiss says that Lewis is close to game ready, however.

According to Reiss, while the team is bringing the diminutive dual threat back along cautiously, in his rehab, people close to the situation believe Lewis is about a month away from being ready to play in game situations.

With the season opener still over three months away (September 11 at the Arizona Cardinals) that news is a good sign for the team and the player.

Last season, Lewis came out of nowhere and added stellar play to the New England backfield for seven games.

He carried the ball 49 times for 234 yards and caught 36 passes for 388 yards. He also scored four times on the season.

Having Lewis back in the fold this season will help add depth to the New England backfield that struggled last season, after his injury.