This is the fourth week of training camp for the Patriots and Stephon Gilmore remains on PUP with a quad injury suffered at the end of last season.
Speaking via video conference Monday morning, Bill Belichick was asked for an update on his cornerback and when he might be able to return with the regular season less than three weeks away.
“I know Steph has been working extremely hard. I see him in here all the time," he said. "He’s doing other things while we’re practicing, so we don’t really see him on the practice field, but he’s been doing everything he can do. And the things he hasn’t been able to do, he hasn’t been able to do. I’d say it’s day-to-day. We’ll just keep trying to put days together and stack them together and when he’s ready to be out there, then he’ll be out there. And if he’s not ready to be out there, then he’ll work on the things that he can work on to try and get ready to be out there. We’ll just take it day-to-day.”
Belichick reiterated the team will not push him to get on the field earlier than he should.
“Again, I know he’s doing what he can," he said. "I know we’re doing what we can. And when he’s ready, he’s ready. And if he’s not ready then I don’t think him being out there is a smart decision for any of us. We’re not going to do that, nor should we do that. We’ll take it as it comes. But, I think everybody is doing as much as they can and that’s really all they can do on that end, as well as preparing and doing the things that we can do that aren’t on the field. There’s still other preparation and other things we can do as far as communication and scheme and studying film — that kind of thing that we’re doing as well.
"That’s true for any player that’s not participating. We have a number of them that fall into that category. It seems like we always have somebody, so does every other team. For those players and for the team, the best thing is for that player to focus on what he can do. Improve in the areas he can improve in and try and get back out as soon as he can and address the areas that he needs to address. And I think that’s what’s being done.”
What wasn't addressed was if Gilmore's contractual status has anything to do with him still being sidelined, as he currently is on the books for $7 million and Gilmore has said this offseason he'd like to be paid more.
With that being said, Belichick's comments didn't indicate there's a major issue between the two sides, although if that's the case then it's interesting a deal has not been worked out.