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The Patriots have spent the last two games without Harold Landry as the veteran pass rusher has dealt with a lingering knee injury. But with the playoffs just days away, Landry has begun to ramp back up.
“[Thursday] was the first time in a couple of weeks we could see him running around. We’ll put the film on and see exactly how it looks, but he’s been rehabbing his butt off,” outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said Thursday. “He’s been in this game long enough to know how important the playoffs are and how hard it is to get to the playoffs. He hasn’t taken a day off since we let him rest. We’ll see how it looks today, talk to the training staff and Vrabes, and go from there.”
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Landry has nursed a knee injury for most of the season, one he first appeared to suffer all the way back in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints. The 32-year old’s practice participation had then been managed throughout the season before New England ultimately decided to hold him out of their final two regular season contests.
“He’s been banged up a little bit all year and there’s certain things that people just don’t realize and how tough that kid is,” Smith said. “Came to a decision in the last couple weeks to rest him just to get him some rest, kind of forced it on him because he wants to be out there. But to get him back, and he never missed a day. He was here in meetings like he was preparing, had all his notepads out, his pens and different color pens and all that stuff. It’s just big for the room.”
In Landry’s absence, the Patriots relied more on veteran Anfernee Jennings and rookie Elijah Ponder across from K’Lavon Chaisson.
While the duo filled in adamantly for Landry — with Smith sharing Jennings was named player of the game on defense in recent weeks and Ponder recorded another sack in the season finale — the captain’s presence back along the edge will be a welcomed boost in a win-or-go-home contest Sunday night.
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“To see him out there running around, I’m not going to lie, makes you feel better as a coach,” Smith said. “Feel a little more comfortable knowing that you got one of your best players coming back, hopefully. We’ll see how it looks, talking to the trainers and Vrabes, they make those decisions. But just his presence man, it’s big.”
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