Future Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri would like to return for a 25th year in the NFL, but he will only be able to do that if he has a successful knee rehab. Vinatieri's 2020 season was cut short because of a knee injury. A week after the injury noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed surgery on his left knee fixing damage done to his meniscus and patellar tendon.

The recovery for such an injury is six months, which means he still has a couple of months left before full rehabilitation.

“After 24 years in the league and 47 years old, I don’t have many regrets,’’ Vinatieri said via Fox 59. “I didn’t like the way the last year ended, but I’m not disappointed in my career at all.’’

Vinatieri said that he wants to come back but he does understand if his NFL career is over.

“If I can’t make it back, it is what it is,’’ Vinatieri said. “I’d like to play again, but if not, that’s part of the deal.

“If after 24 years you’re not at peace with what you’ve done in your career, then you’re a jackass. What more? I always wanted to be a good father and a good husband. Football is what I do, it doesn’t define me.

Even if Vinatieri is healthy there have to be questions about where he would have a chance to kick. Chase McLaughlin replaced Vinatieri after he went down with the knee injury last season and is still on the roster. The team also brought in former Georgia Bulldogs standout Rodrigo Blankenship as an undrafted free agent.

If Adam Vinatieri is healthy enough, maybe it will be a three-way battle for the team's kicking job.