How successful have Patriots been with players coming back from IR-DFR?

FOXBOROUGH — Rex Burkhead is ready to roll.

It’s been a long road back for the veteran since he went down with a neck injury in Week 3. He’s been forced to sit and rehab and watch as the Patriots have gone from 1-2 to 8-3. IR can be a lonely place that can get immensely frustrating at times, but Bill Belichick said Burkhead handled the process about as well as he could have.

“Rex has worked really hard, as he always does,” Belichick said Wednesday. “We talked about it when I made the move, and I talked to him about it. We had a lengthy discussion. I think we both had an understanding of what the situation was, what needed to be done and how to do it. He’s been very diligent and consistent with his approach to it.

“I’d say as we got closer to the opportunity to bring him back to being eligible to practice and then ultimately being eligible to play, he consistently met or exceeded kind of targets or things that he needed to show or do or be able to do to move forward. So, yeah, he’s done a great job and look forward to having him back.”

It’s easy to be cynical about Burkhead, who has struggled with health issues since he first arrived prior to the start of last season. As we noted here, he’s played just 13 of a possible 27 games as a member of the Patriots. (In three games this season, he has 24 carries for 86 yards and three receptions for 31 yards.) But if he can be a steady part of the rotation at running back down the stretch and (ideally) into the postseason, things just might work out.

“We’re very fortunate in the backs we have, and now, getting Rex back is going to be just another thing we can add,” said center David Andrews. “He’s such a great player. He’s got great vision, runs hard. (It was) kind of tough with the injury, but having him back, I’m excited. I love blocking for our backs, and the more guys we can get in there fresh and keep rolling through, I think it’s more the better.”

When it comes to the rest of the way, what’s a reasonable level of expectation for Burkhead in terms of usage and production? Based on the current depth chart at running back, you can certainly project him as part of a rotation with the ultra-dependable James White and emerging rookie Sony Michel. But the truth of the matter is that when it comes to re-integrating a player back into the mix during the season after an IR-designated for return (DFR) stint, the Patriots have had mixed results.

New England has used the “IR — DFR” status on four players since it first became a possibility prior to the 2012 season:

Jacoby Brissett (2016): The likable young quarterback ended up going on IR-DFR early in the season with a thumb issue, but returned to the active roster in December. He didn’t take a significant snap the rest of the way — the third-stringer didn’t have to play down the stretch and into the playoffs — but was a member of the roster in good standing by the time the Super Bowl rolled around.

Bryan Stork (2015): For Stork, who suffered from a concussion, it was the beginning of the end of his time in New England. The offensive lineman ended up playing in eight games in 2015, and while he was effective at times, it was his final season in a New England uniform. He was supplanted in the starting lineup by Andrews.

Sealver Siliga (2014): The defensive lineman sustained a foot injury in Week 3 that season. But after a stint on IR, he was able to return in December, and averaged 37 snaps a game in the regular season the rest of the way. Maybe the best example of a rotational player finding his way back into the lineup late in the season. Given the fact that Burkhead is also a rotational guy (albeit on the other side of the ball) who went down in Week 3 (like Burkhead) and is set to return in December, he likely provided the best possible template for the running back.

Visanthe Shiancoe (2012): The tight end went on IR early in 2012, and was activated in early November. He played four games with the Patriots, didn’t register any stats, and ended up being released the next month.