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Patriots' Seymour returns to practice

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour practiced with the New England Patriots on Wednesday for the first time this season.

Seymour is on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury. He can practice for up to three weeks before the Patriots must either activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.

Seymour stretched and ran an agility drill with other members of the defensive line during the part of practice media was allowed to watch. He wasn't available for comment.

Before practice, coach Bill Belichick said he wouldn't be able to gauge Seymour's affect on the defense until the seven-year veteran got back on the field.

"Once we see him, we'll see where he's at and we'll get an idea," Belichick said. "Until a player gets out there and starts practicing, it's hard to picture exactly what it looks like."

While the Patriots' offense is on a record-setting pace, the defense has appeared vulnerable in high-scoring wins over the Cowboys (48-27) and Dolphins (49-28) the last two weeks. Winless Miami rushed for 179 yards against New England on Sunday, and the Patriots are allowing 4.4 yards per carry, ranking them 24th in the league.

Of the four people on the Patriots' PUP list, receiver Troy Brown, New England's all-time leading receiver, has not practiced. Receiver Chad Jackson and cornerback Eddie Jackson returned to practice last week but have not been activated.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.