Marqise Lee says he’s ‘eager to get back’ to Patriots after opting out

New England Patriots receiver Marqise Lee may have skipped the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is getting geared up for a 2021 season, which would be his first with the team.

He is already taking steps to rejoin the team, including a physical in New England this week.

“I got to Boston on Sunday, did the physical and everything was perfect. As far as this year goes, I’m eager to get back,” Lee told ESPN’s Mike Reiss recently.

Because he opted out in 2020 and dealt with injuries in 2019, he has played just six games over the last two years with three receptions for 18 yards. However, he had his two most productive seasons in 2016 and 2017 when he had 55 or more catches for 700 or more yards and six total touchdowns. He signed one-year, a veteran minimum contract ($1.05 million) with the Patriots this offseason.

“I felt like me choosing New England, just to go there as far as this season was in the sense of just trying to get back to myself,” he said in May after joining the team in free agency. “I felt like which place is the perfect place to get back and try to get back to yourself rather than New England – very strict, basically just all about football and handling your business.”