The Facts: According to a league source, the Patriots will do what everyone expects and place Jackson on the physically-unable-to-perform list in advance of the summer’s first practice, scheduled for Friday.

Diehards Line:According to the Herald, Jackson is ahead of schedule and able to sprint on the surgically repaired knee but still lacks the strength to cut and change direction. So, team officials will exercise caution and re-evaluate the receiver in late August. At that point, they will have three options: They could activate him; they could move him to the reserve/PUP, which would sideline him for at least the first six weeks of the season; or they could place Jackson on injured reserve, ending his second season in the league. Off-season additions at the position (Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington) obviously factor into the cautious approach.