An intensified workload awaits Patriots running back Shane Vereen in practice this week as he returns from a broken wrist that had him on short-term IR since Week 2. That will allow Bill Belichick to determine his readiness to play Monday night against Carolina.
"This will really be an opportunity for us to evaluate this week kind of where he is, give him some harder assignments and see how he's doing," Belichick told the Boston Herald.
Vereen did just fine in Week 1 with 101 yards on 14 carries and seven catches for 58 yards. He is expected to work mostly as the primary third-down pass-catching back upon his return.