LeGarrette Blount

New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen, one of the team’s key offensive players, said this week that his previously broken left wrist still isn’t back to the point where it was before the injury last September.

“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,” Vereen said on the team’s website as part of the PFW in Progress program with Fred Kirsch, Paul Perillo, Andy Hart and Erik Scalavino.

Vereen suffered a broken bone in the wrist in a season-opening victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8, and had surgery that sidelined him until a Nov. 18 game against the Carolina Panthers.

Vereen added in the PFW in Progress interview that his wrist feels good and “through most of the end of the season, I was fine with it.” He wouldn’t use it as an excuse for a few dropped passes last season.

Vereen was a 4for4 favorite heading into the 2013 season, but a Week 1 wrist injury derailed a promising start. Over the course of eight regular season games and two playoff games, Vereen averaged 10.7 touches (including 5.4 catches) for 76 yards and 0.40 TD, though his usage in the running game was limited once the Patriots decided to lean on LeGarrette Blount between the tackles. With Blount gone, Vereen’s role could increase. He should be a solid RB2 in standard formats and a fringe RB1 in PPR leagues, provided he stays healthy. We wouldn't worry too much about the wrist; he should be fine by training camp.