FOXBOROUGH u2015 Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams returned to practice on Tuesday, starting the clock for his return.
Players coming off of injured reserve must be activated for game action within a 21-day window, or else they return to the IR list for the rest of the season.
Williams has been out since Nov. 13 with a high ankle sprain. He missed four games and the Patriots went 3-1 during that span.
With two regular-season games left and the playoffs approaching, the Patriots are taking the first steps toward Williams’s return.