FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower continues to work his way back after last year's season-ending injury. On Thursday, he talked with the New England media about a few different things, including his rehab, as well as what it means to be back on the field.\r
\r
\r
\r

","tag","specs",[1036,1037],{"_7":1033,"_801":910},{"_7":1033,"_801":1038},"apatriots","isPremium","isWarning","isTertiary","hasEmbed","Video: Dont'a Hightower on the rehab process, returning to the field and having fun","bangHead","excerpt","FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower continues to work his way back after last year's season-ending injury. On Thursday, he talked with the New England media about a few different things, including his rehab, as well as what it means to be back on the field.","featuredImage","img/legacy/Screen-Shot-2018-05-31-at-3.44.16-PM-544x306.jpg","imageCaption","imageCredit","videoInfo",{},"podcastInfo",{},"relatedArticles",{"_15":1057,"_1058":1059},[],"filters",[1060],{"_1024":1025,"_1026":1061},[910],"thumbnail","img/legacy/Screen-Shot-2018-05-31-at-3.44.16-PM-thumbnail.jpg","seo",{"_390":1043,"_1045":1046,"_1066":1048},"defaultImage","publishedOn","2018-05-31T15:45:06","category","featuredImageUrl","cacheKey","bsj_video-donta-hightower-rehab-process-returning-field-fun","cachedOn","2026-05-30T22:21:05.192Z","contentBlocks",[1077,1081],{"_36":1078,"_1079":1080},"text","html","

",{"_36":1082,"_15":1083,"_1079":18},"ad",{"_36":76,"_38":77,"_40":77,"_41":77,"_42":18,"_43":23,"_44":78,"_45":79,"_46":18,"_47":18,"_48":18,"_50":1084,"_52":32,"_53":32,"_54":32,"_55":32,"_56":1085},[],{"_58":18,"_59":18,"_60":18,"_61":18,"_62":18,"_63":18,"_64":18,"_65":1086,"_67":18,"_68":83},[],"metaSettings",{"_390":391,"_392":393,"_394":395,"_396":391,"_397":398,"_399":400,"_401":398,"_402":403,"_404":1089,"_413":414,"_415":416,"_417":418,"_419":420},{"_406":407,"_408":409,"_410":411,"_412":18},"sidebarSections",[1092,1212],{"_1093":1094,"_1097":1098,"_1099":1100,"_1101":1102,"_1058":1103,"_1146":1210},"header",{"_390":1095,"_392":18,"_1096":18},"PODCASTS","image","articles",[],"desktopLayoutStyle","compact","mobileLayoutStyle","none",[1104],{"_36":1033,"_38":926,"_1105":1106,"_15":1107,"_1127":1128,"_1026":1129,"_1209":139},"count","4",{"_36":1033,"_38":926,"_40":286,"_1108":1109,"_1110":1111},"Id",20,"__i",{"_1112":1113,"_905":1114,"_394":1116,"_1034":1117,"_1069":-5,"_1118":-5,"_1119":1120},"guid","b38416d9-929b-4c2f-b4d6-1857e870a8ad",{"_38":-5,"_7":1115,"_727":-5},"Specification",[],[],"subCategory","auditing",{"_1121":1122,"_1123":1124,"_1125":1124,"_1126":1122},"createdOn","2021-03-30T00:50:34.503Z","createdBy","e112f577-edc8-4591-b8a0-5dd911625257","lastUpdatedBy","lastUpdatedOn","load","preload",[1130,1161,1177,1193],{"_1096":1131,"_994":1132,"_846":1133,"_1033":206,"_1134":1135,"_1067":1136,"_997":1137,"_1003":1139,"_1007":1008,"_390":1140,"_1141":1142,"_1045":1142,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1145,"_1146":1147,"_38":1149,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1151,"_1014":1152,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1155,"_988":1149,"_1051":1156,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/screenshot-2026-05-21-at-7.04.57â¯pm-544x306.jpg","prizepicks-bedard-patriots-podcast-is-the-aj-brown-trade-in-peril-and-more-context-for-bertrand-and-belichick-beefs","/2026/05/21/prizepicks-bedard-patriots-podcast-is-the-aj-brown-trade-in-peril-and-more-context-for-bertrand-and-belichick-beefs","date","2026-05-21T23:04:45.325Z","2026-05-21T23:19:03.180Z",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},"GregABedard",[],".@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Is the A.J. Brown trade in peril? And more context for Bertrand and Belichick beefs","tagLine","Greg and Nick address the rumor that Greg once applied for a Patriots front office position and Bill Belichick's role in it. Greg then tells a Belichick story where the former Patriots head coach encouraged him to take the MMQB job. Finally, Greg and Nick discuss the latest A.J. Brown rumors and what to expect from Kyle Williams heading into Year 2.","viewCount","1","9","types",[1148],"podcast","c492cef7-3c17-4331-9f0b-aad873a51308","isLiveFile",[],[],"prohibitReactionsInComments","advancedOptions",{},{"_1157":-5},"url","externalUrl","subHeadings","feedBlurb",{"_1096":1162,"_994":1163,"_846":1164,"_1033":206,"_1134":1165,"_1067":1166,"_997":1167,"_1003":1168,"_1007":1008,"_390":1169,"_1141":1170,"_1045":1170,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1145,"_1146":1171,"_38":1172,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1173,"_1014":1174,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1175,"_988":1172,"_1051":1176,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/sportshub-podcast-zb2024_1728480073_-544x306.jpg","podcast-bedard-hashes-some-things-with-beetle-on-zolak--bertrand-052126","/2026/05/21/podcast-bedard-hashes-some-things-with-beetle-on-zolak--bertrand-052126","2026-05-21T18:41:36.277Z","2026-05-21T18:53:22.263Z",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],"Podcast: Bedard hashes some things with Beetle on Zolak & Bertrand 05.21.26","Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard hashes some things out with Beetle.",[1148],"b9653475-3028-44a1-8974-caae5049077f",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},{"_1096":1178,"_994":1179,"_846":1180,"_1033":206,"_1134":1181,"_1067":1182,"_997":1183,"_1003":1184,"_1007":1008,"_390":1185,"_1141":1186,"_1045":1186,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1144,"_1146":1187,"_38":1188,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1189,"_1014":1190,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1191,"_988":1188,"_1051":1192,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/screenshot-2026-05-20-at-2.32.11â¯pm-544x306.jpg","prizepicks-bedard-patriots-podcast-internal-raves-about-maye-qa","/2026/05/20/prizepicks-bedard-patriots-podcast-internal-raves-about-maye-qa","2026-05-20T18:32:49.779Z","2026-05-20T18:35:27.496Z",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],".@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Internal raves about Maye; Q&A","BSJ’s Greg Bedard and Nick Cattles discuss Kayshon Boutte not being around the team before he's likely traded, Drake Maye against this schedule and internal raves, and answer BSJ member questions about A.J. Brown, Caleb Lomu, and the offensive line.\n",[1148],"e4551bb6-2c9e-4c44-9a12-51c2c13ea2e2",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},{"_1096":1194,"_994":1195,"_846":1196,"_1033":206,"_1134":1197,"_1067":1198,"_997":1199,"_1003":1200,"_1007":1008,"_390":1201,"_1141":1202,"_1045":1202,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1144,"_1146":1203,"_38":1204,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1205,"_1014":1206,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1207,"_988":1204,"_1051":1208,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/felger-mazz-pod-2021-1024x1024-544x306.jpg","podcast-bedard-on-vrabels-statement-aj-brown-and-the-draft-with-felger--mazz-042126","/2026/04/21/podcast-bedard-on-vrabels-statement-aj-brown-and-the-draft-with-felger--mazz-042126","2026-04-21T21:52:30.827Z","2026-04-21T21:54:58.749Z",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],"Podcast: Bedard on Vrabel's statement, A.J. Brown and the draft with Felger & Mazz 04.21.26","Greg Bedard joins the show and the guys open the hour with their reaction to Mike Vrabel’s statement to the media today. ",[1148],"526b6a0c-e551-4711-b463-e3b72d877998",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},"skip",[1211],"tagless",{"_1093":1213,"_1097":1215,"_1099":1216,"_1101":1102,"_1058":1217},{"_390":1214,"_392":18,"_1096":18},"VIDEOS",[],"default",[1218],{"_36":1033,"_38":923,"_1105":1106,"_15":1219,"_1127":1128,"_1026":1228,"_1209":139},{"_36":1033,"_38":923,"_40":292,"_1108":1220,"_1110":1221},21,{"_1112":1222,"_905":1223,"_394":1224,"_1034":1225,"_1069":-5,"_1118":-5,"_1119":1226},"604f30f6-20bb-42c0-8857-47a571812847",{"_38":-5,"_7":1115,"_727":-5},[],[],{"_1121":1227,"_1123":1124,"_1125":1124,"_1126":1227},"2021-03-30T00:50:34.565Z",[1229,1237,1259,1278],{"_1096":1131,"_994":1132,"_846":1133,"_1033":206,"_1134":1135,"_1067":1136,"_997":1230,"_1003":1231,"_1007":1008,"_390":1140,"_1141":1142,"_1045":1142,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1145,"_1146":1232,"_38":1149,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1233,"_1014":1234,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1235,"_988":1149,"_1051":1236,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],[1148],[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},{"_1096":1238,"_994":1239,"_846":1240,"_1033":182,"_1134":1241,"_1067":1242,"_1243":1244,"_997":1245,"_1003":1249,"_1007":1008,"_390":1250,"_1141":1251,"_1045":1251,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1144,"_1030":1031,"_1146":1252,"_38":1254,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1255,"_1014":1256,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1153":32,"_1154":1257,"_988":1254,"_1051":1258,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/pierce-usatsi_5124194_168384367_lowres-544x306.jpg","video-counting-down-the-five-biggest-trades-in-celtics-history","/2026/02/05/video-counting-down-the-five-biggest-trades-in-celtics-history","2026-02-05T17:01:40.097Z","2026-02-05T21:31:59.816Z","photoCredit","Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images",{"_40":1246,"_38":1247,"_1001":1248},"Bobby Manning","bmann260","/avatars/bmann260.jpg",[],"Video: Counting down the five biggest trades in Celtics history","CLNS Media’s Nick Gelso counted down the top trades in Celtics history ahead of Thursday’s deadline and settled on five that stood apart from any others.",[1253],"video","0265ca0a-6b8b-4c0c-b128-917288d114b8",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},{"_1096":1260,"_994":1261,"_846":1262,"_1033":206,"_1134":1263,"_1067":1264,"_1243":1265,"_997":1266,"_1003":1267,"_1007":1268,"_390":1269,"_1141":1270,"_1045":1270,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1271,"_1030":1031,"_1146":1272,"_38":1273,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1274,"_1014":1275,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1154":1276,"_988":1273,"_1051":1277,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/maye-mayfield-usatsi_27546808_168384367_lowres-544x306.jpg","podcasts-bedard-reacts-to-patriots-win-over-the-bucs-in-tampa-for-7th-straight-win-110925","/2025/11/09/podcasts-bedard-reacts-to-patriots-win-over-the-bucs-in-tampa-for-7th-straight-win-110925","2025-11-10T03:16:19.487Z","2025-11-10T03:34:44.215Z","(USA Today Network)",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],"at Raymond James Stadium","Podcasts: Bedard reacts to Patriots' win over the Bucs in Tampa for 7th-straight win 11.09.25","BSJ’s Greg Bedard joins CLNS Media’s John Zannis as they break down the New England Patriots 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 10. With the win the Patriots have now won 7 straight games and improve to 8-2 on the season. The now MVP front runner Drake Maye finished the day 16-31 for 270 Passing Yards & 2 Pass TDs. The Patriots had solid performances today from their rookie draft picks with TreVeyon Henderson & Kyle Williams both finding the end zone. Henderson had a big game finishing with 147 Yards on the ground and 2 long rushing TDs.",3760,[1148],"18acb0ab-c209-465e-9d38-067b21fddfac",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},{"_1096":1279,"_994":1280,"_846":1281,"_1033":206,"_1134":1282,"_1067":1283,"_997":1284,"_1003":1285,"_1007":1286,"_390":1287,"_1141":1288,"_1045":1288,"_1039":32,"_1040":32,"_1041":32,"_1143":1289,"_1030":1031,"_1146":1290,"_38":1291,"_496":986,"_1150":32,"_1009":1292,"_1014":1293,"_1018":32,"_1019":32,"_1154":1294,"_988":1291,"_1051":1295,"_1158":18,"_1159":-5,"_1160":-5},"/img/Patriots/vrabel-kraft-falcons_patriots_110225122904_richins_9622-1-544x306.jpg","podcasts-bedard-breaks-down-patriots-falcons-trade-deadline-with-clns-and-985-the-sportshub","/2025/11/02/podcasts-bedard-breaks-down-patriots-falcons-trade-deadline-with-clns-and-985-the-sportshub","2025-11-03T02:17:10.769Z","2025-11-03T02:23:21.752Z",{"_40":270,"_38":1138,"_1001":921},[],"at Gillette Stadium","Podcasts: Bedard breaks down Patriots-Falcons, trade deadline with CLNS and 98.5 The SportsHub","BSJ’s Greg Bedard joins CLNS Media’s John Zannis as they break down the New England Patriots 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in week 9. With the win the Patriots have now won 6 straight games. While Drake Maye didn’t have the best day at the office having 2 turnovers the 2nd year pro still managed to finish the game 19/29 with 259 Passing Yards and 2 Passing TD & added 20 yards on the ground. The Patriots WRs were lead by DeMario Douglas who had a career-high 100 Receiving Yards in the win on 4 catches. Stefon Diggs for the 2nd straight week found his way in the end zone finishing the game with 3 Receptions for 38 Yards.",3728,[1253,1148],"86febe4c-6416-4ca4-98c9-c113c8766216",[],[],{},{"_1157":-5},"playerData","actionData","errors"]

Video: Dont'a Hightower on the rehab process, returning to the field and having fun

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Is the A.J. Brown trade in peril? And more context for Bertrand and Belichick beefs

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

Podcast: Bedard hashes some things with Beetle on Zolak & Bertrand 05.21.26

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Internal raves about Maye; Q&A

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 20, 2026

Podcast: Bedard on Vrabel's statement, A.J. Brown and the draft with Felger & Mazz 04.21.26

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

April 21, 2026

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Is the A.J. Brown trade in peril? And more context for Bertrand and Belichick beefs

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

Video: Counting down the five biggest trades in Celtics history

By Bobby Manning at BSJ Headquarters

Feb 5, 2026

Podcasts: Bedard reacts to Patriots' win over the Bucs in Tampa for 7th-straight win 11.09.25

By Greg A. Bedard at Raymond James Stadium

Nov 9, 2025

Podcasts: Bedard breaks down Patriots-Falcons, trade deadline with CLNS and 98.5 The SportsHub

By Greg A. Bedard at Gillette Stadium

Nov 2, 2025

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Is the A.J. Brown trade in peril? And more context for Bertrand and Belichick beefs

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

Podcast: Bedard hashes some things with Beetle on Zolak & Bertrand 05.21.26

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Internal raves about Maye; Q&A

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 20, 2026

Podcast: Bedard on Vrabel's statement, A.J. Brown and the draft with Felger & Mazz 04.21.26

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

April 21, 2026

.@PrizePicks Bedard Patriots Podcast: Is the A.J. Brown trade in peril? And more context for Bertrand and Belichick beefs

By Greg A. Bedard at BSJ Headquarters

May 21, 2026

Video: Counting down the five biggest trades in Celtics history

By Bobby Manning at BSJ Headquarters

Feb 5, 2026

Podcasts: Bedard reacts to Patriots' win over the Bucs in Tampa for 7th-straight win 11.09.25

By Greg A. Bedard at Raymond James Stadium

Nov 9, 2025

Podcasts: Bedard breaks down Patriots-Falcons, trade deadline with CLNS and 98.5 The SportsHub

By Greg A. Bedard at Gillette Stadium

Nov 2, 2025