The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Although he missed spring practices after undergoing offseason surgery on his foot, but there is now optimism that Dobson will be ready in time for training camp, according to a source. The source added that it is still too early to be certain of Dobson’s status, but this is the first time since his March surgery that anyone has spoke of his situation with optimism.

Diehards Line: As MassLive.com's Nick Underhill reminded readers, Dobson’s projected recovery was initially set at 2-3 months, which should have put him on the field for last month’s mini-camp. The surgery was delayed to March because there was a belief that Dobson's foot would be able to heal naturally. Dobson first injured his foot during a Week 12 game against the Denver Broncos, missed three games, and then aggravated it during the season finale against the Buffalo Bills. He returned for the AFC title game against the Broncos but was limited to 21 snaps. Over 12 games during the regular season, Dobson caught 37 passes for 519 yards with four touchdowns. He is expected to play a major role in the passing game during his second season.