After missing the first four games of the regular season, the clock has officially started for Jahlani Tavai.

The New England Patriots opened the veteran linebacker’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.

“I expect him to practice, yes,” head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. “I don’t have an update on the game, but he will return to play and practice.”

Tavai, 29, began training camp on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a calf injury during organized team activities in June. But the 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker would be sidelined again in August before being placed on injured reserve at the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.

With the calendar now turned to October, Wednesday’s practice was circled as the earliest target date for his return.

The 2-

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