Belichick hopes to get RB Fred Taylor back from ankle surgery in 2009

Belichick hopes to get Taylor back in ‘09

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and running back Fred Taylor are hopeful Taylor’s ankle surgery Thursday isn’t season ending.

“We’ll list him on the injury report weekly as we always do,” Belichick said Friday when asked if Taylor will return this season. “I think obviously if he wasn’t going to come back this season, then we would place him on injured reserve at some point. He’s not there now, so that wouldn’t be the expectation.”

Taylor underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in his right ankle at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on Thursday.

Taylor told the Florida Times-Union on Thursday night that the surgery was “more serious than a scope,” but doesn’t expect it to sideline him the entire season. Taylor told the newspaper he sustained a high ankle sprain and tore “a couple of ligaments.”

He said he will know more when he speaks to the doctor again, but “will bounce back stronger. I know it. I’ve prayed on it.”

The 33-year-old Taylor, who spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing a two-year deal with the Patriots in the offseason, is New England’s leading rusher. He has 45 carries for 201 yards and two touchdowns in four games.

Belichick said activating BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who has yet to play in a game this season, is a “possibility.”

The coach was asked how Taylor’s injury will affect the team and what adjustments must be made.

“We have confidence in all our backs. We have four other backs on the roster, so how all that will work, we’ll have to see how it all materializes,” he said.

The Patriots are hopeful linebacker Jerod Mayo will return at Denver after being sidelined since suffering a right knee injury against Buffalo in the opener. He had limited participation in practice this week and was listed as questionable on the injury report Friday.

Other Patriots questionable after limited participation in practice Friday are tackle Nick Kaczur (ankle), safety James Sanders (shoulder), cornerback Shawn Springs (knee), receiver Wes Welker (knee), and nose tackle Vince Wilfork (ankle). Linebacker Adalius Thomas missed practice Friday for a non-injury related reason and was listed as probable.