Ty Warren: Very close to playing

Defensive end Ty Warren met with reporters before practice today, and colleague Christopher L. Gasper reports that Warren is inching closer to suiting up for action.

"Very close. I am very close," Warren said, when asked by reporters if he would play Sunday against the Raiders. "That's a good thing."

Warren, the team's starting left end, has missed three of the last four games with a groin injury.

"As I mentioned last week, I really turned the corner," Warren said. "As far as my health, the injury is the injury. That's going to get taken care of at the end of the season."

Warren indicated that the health problems have challenged him in more ways than one.

"It's very difficult. It can be frustrating at times," he said. "I really try to practice patience, and I've had to do that. Coach Bill, the doctors and myself came up with a legitimate strategy as far as managing this injury, trying to get through the season with it."
--Mike Reiss, Boston Globe