Ever since a rule change in 2012, NFL teams are allowed to bring players back from their injured reserve list: currently, two players are eligible to return to practice if they a) were placed on the list after roster cutdowns, and b) missed at least six weeks of action. The New England Patriots have, of course, multiple players as candidates to use the two IR-return designations on — but only one that can come back as early as this week.
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry was placed on injured reserve shortly after cutdown day, which gave the team the ability to bring him back after a six-week absence.