Patriots practice update: Isaiah Wynn returns to practice, designated to return off injured reserve

The New England Patriots currently have 13 players on their injured reserve list, with six of them in theory eligible to be reactivated later during the season. One of the two spots has already been used on first-round rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry, however, who was placed on injured reserve shortly after cutdown day and could play in his first game for the club as early as Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Now, we also know who takes the second IR-return spot: six weeks and one day after getting moved to the list, starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn returned to practice and has officially taken the other spot. This means that a.) Wynn will be back in the lineup as early as Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys, and b.) that the other four players currently on injured reserve will not be able to return to the active roster this year:

FB James Develin

WR Josh Gordon

K Stephen Gostkowski

FB Jakob Johnson

While the season is now over for those four players, getting Wynn back is certainly the best-case scenario from New England’s perspective. One of the Patriots’ first-round draft picks in 2018, he took over as the team’s left tackle this offseason and looked good while starting the first two games of the regular season. However, the 23-year-old injured his toe in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins and has been out ever since.

Now, Wynn back at practice even though he cannot return to the active 53-man roster (and game action) until after Week 11. All in all, a 21-day window has been opened via his return to practice during which he either has to join the active team or return to injured reserve for the rest of the season. New England does not have to bring him back to practice right away, however, and could in theory wait until after the aforementioned game against Dallas.