Dominique Easley's return from a season-ending knee injury will be one of the many subplots to the New England Patriots' offseason.
As Bill Belichick goes into full-fledged remodel mode on defense, Easley will be one of the cogs in a defensive tackle rotation tasked with replacing Vince Wilfork in the center of the Patriots' front.
Easley missed the final three games of the regular season and the entire playoff run to the Super Bowl. He avoided offseason surgery and told SiriusXM NFL radio on Sunday that he's on pace to be healthy for training camp.
"I'll be fully ready for training camp. I'm still in the rehab process, kind of. I'm running and everything, so by the time training camp comes I'll be fully ready to go," Easley said.
Easley joins Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga -- coming off offseason surgery -- and rookie Malcom Brown in a defensive tackle rotation that will attempt to ensure the Patriots' run defense doesn't take a nosedive sans Wilfork.
The Pats ended last season ninth overall against the run. A healthy Easley in the rotation and Monday's signing of run-stuffing linebacker Brandon Spikes should help ensure New England doesn't fall off.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast welcomes Lindsay Rhodes to discuss the Patriots' response in the "Deflategate" saga and the latest names revealed on the "The Top 100 Players of 2015" countdown. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
