Herzlich says leg is '80-85' percent

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich continues to take positive steps in his comeback.

After missing the 2009 season because of a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma, Herzlich returned to the team this spring. On Friday night, he played in Tom Brady's Best Buddies flag football game, giving onlookers a chance to witness his progress.

"It's the first time in the public eye," Herzlich said. "Everything is feeling great."

When Herzlich first returned to BC's football team, he was limited to conditioning drills. He didn't play in the Eagles' spring game, but said Friday that he's been a full participant in 7-on-7 drills at practices.

Herzlich detailed his rehabilitation in recent months.

"I had surgery back in November, and basically for a couple months after surgery, my biggest concern was getting flexibility back in my leg and getting all the muscles firing and everything," he said. "As of about a month ago, the flexibility is back, everything is firing. So right now I'm just strengthening my leg, trying to get my left leg up even with my right leg, and that's kind of what the process this summer is going to be like."

Herzlich estimated that his left leg is probably 80-85 percent. He said there is no pain and that it's just a matter of building the muscles up again.

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPN Boston. You can follow him on Twitter or leave a question for his weekly mailbag.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Mike Reiss

Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com

• Follow
• Archive

• Covered Patriots since 1997
• Blogging on Pats since 2004
• Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009