Shane Vereen says wrist ‘good’ but isn’t 100%
New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34). Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots all-purpose back Shane Vereen is one of the best pass-catching RBs in the NFL, and he certainly showed that off last season when he was healthy. One of the most explosive players in the league, Vereen has the ability to line up as a receiver in certain situations, making him a very valuable chess piece in the Patriots offense. Not only does he offer playmaking ability in the passing game, but he’s earned the trust of Tom Brady and averaged a nice 4.7 yards per carry on the ground last season.
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Vereen played in just eight games last season due to a broken left wrist that he suffered in the first week of the regular season, and he actually played through that injury in an incredible effort on the ground and through the air in a narrow victory against the rival Buffalo Bills. While Vereen was given more time than expected to heal after his surgery, he still says that his wrist doesn’t feel 100%.
He told the Patriots official site’s podcast “PFW in Progress”, quotes via the excellent Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, that his wrist “feels good” (from Reiss), but that it isn’t 100% yet, “It’s not going to feel great tomorrow, it’s not going to feel awful. It won’t be 100 percent probably for a while, but it’s good enough and I’m working on strengthening it and getting it back.”
The Cal product added that he wouldn’t blame the injury for dropped passes or anything, and the injury will be fully healthy by the time the more serious offseason activities start. Vereen has a big third season ahead of him after playing at a high level when healthy last year, and he’s an exciting player to watch, especially when he’s out there running routes.