Tom Brady's surgically repaired right foot is healing properly and the Patriots quarterback is expected to be ready to go in time for the season, a source familiar with the situation told WEEI.com Tuesday.
Brady, 33, underwent surgery on the foot Jan. 20 to correct a stress fracture. The source said a recent exam showed that the non-displaced fracture of his navicular bone is bridging, an indication that the foot is healing properly.
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Brady was spotted on April 1 in Los Angeles throwing passes. His foot and ankle were partially concealed by workout pants and shoes, but Brady appeared to be free of the walking boot he wore in March in Brazil while traveling with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
"I feel good," Brady said at a promotional appearance Friday in New York. "I feel like anybody who has had surgery and had to go through rehabilitation. We still got a long time until football season starts, and I'm just working my way back."
Brady's foot injury first became public knowledge when his name popped up on the injury report with a right foot injury prior to the Patriots' Week 10 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Brady missed several Wednesday practices, he never missed a game during the regular season -- one in which he passed for 36 touchdowns, four interceptions and 3,900 yards on his way to his second MVP award.
According to WEEI.com, the surgery was the fifth for Brady, who has acknowledged going under the knife for work on his shoulder, groin and knee, as well as one other he did not disclose. Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first week of the 2008 season.
"Over the course of the season, a lot of players throughout the league, a lot of players on our team deal with these type of injuries," Brady said after his most recent operation. "Part of having a little bit of mental toughness is putting those things aside and still going out and trying to perform your best each week."
Brady doesn't expect any of his ailments to prevent him from continuing a long, productive career in which he has led the Patriots to four Super Bowls, winning three. After the Patriots' selection of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett in last week's NFL draft, Brady told NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner in a text that he plans to play for another 10 years. Brady is signed through the 2014 season.
The Patriots had only Brian Hoyer as a backup quarterback last season, so the addition of Mallett could give coach Bill Belichick another option if Brady is injured again.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
