Ninkovich is expected to announce his retirement Sunday, ESPN.com's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 33-year-old defensive end/outside linebacker was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, but he bounced around the league until catching on with the Patriots as a part-time player in 2009. He then played 16 games each year from 2010 to 2015, averaging 66.5 tackles and 6.8 sacks per season while winning two Super Bowls along the way. Ninkovich dropped off to 32 tackles and four sacks in 12 games last year, after serving a four-game suspension PED suspension to start the season. His retirement should free up more snaps for offseason acquisitions Kony Ealy and Lawrence Guy, though neither projects as a direct replacement.

Ninkovich finished the 2016 regular season with 32 tackles and four sacks over the course of 12 games.

EDGE Analysis

Ninkovich, who is set to play in his third Super Bowl on Sunday, missed four games to start the 2016 season after testing positive for a banned substance. Upon his return, the versatile defender re-established a degree of IDP utility in deeper formats and the 33-year-old is slated to stay in the mix in 2017, as Ninkovich is under contract with the Patriots next season.

Ninkovich was on the field for 46 of 68 defensive snaps in Sunday's 35-17 win over the Bengals, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

After seeing 24 snaps in Week 5, Ninkovich saw an increase in playing time in his second game back from a four-game suspension, recording four tackles in the process. Ninkovich is an option in deeper IDP formats, based on the assumption that he'll remain a key cog in the Patriots' D-line rotation going forward.

Ninkovich was on the field for 24 of the Patriots' 63 snaps on defense in Sunday's 33-13 win over the Browns, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his first game back after serving a four-game suspension, Ninkovich saw most of his work in the Patriots' base defense, while coming off the field in passing situations. While it's not surprising to see him eased him back into the rotation following his suspension and a triceps injury, Ninkovich -- who logged just one tackle Sunday -- should see added snaps in the coming weeks, and when that happens he should re-emerge on the IDP radar.

The Patriots officially activated Ninkovich from the suspended list in advance of Sunday's game against the Browns, the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

The same applies to QB Tom Brady, with the team having created room for the moves by releasing TE Clay Harbor and placing QB Jacoby Brissett on IR earlier this week. While it's possible that he may be eased back into the team's D-line rotation this week -- along Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long and Trey Flowers -- once Ninkovich's workload is re-established, he's of interest in IDP formats.

Ninkovich has returned to practice after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Ninkovich evidently past his triceps injury, look for him to return to the Patriots' defensive line mix Sunday against the Browns. Meanwhile, the report suggests that it seems likely that in his anticipated return to action in Week 5, Ninkovich figures to profile "as a rotational asset" along with fellow DE's Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long and Trey Flowers.

Ninkovich, who had been dealing with a triceps injury and is eligible to return from suspension this week, is reportedly healthy enough to play, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

EDGE Analysis

Once Ninkovich is officially reinstated, the injury watch will be on for him this week, as Sunday's game against the Browns approaches. Assuming he trends toward suiting up this weekend, Ninkovich is of some interest to those in IDP formats, given that he recorded 52 tackles and 6.5 sacks while starting at defensive end for the Patriots last season.

The Patriots have signed Ninkovich (suspension) to a one-year contract extension, NFL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though he's suspended for the first four weeks of the regular season and concurrently nursing a triceps injury, the Patriots' brass still clearly considers Ninkovich a key piece of their defense for the foreseeable future. Previously set to hit the free agent market after at season's end, Ninkovich is now set to remain in New England through 2017.

Ninkovich (triceps) has been suspended for four games after testing positive for a banned substance, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran defensive end claimed to be devastated and shocked by the news that he tested positive, claiming to have never knowingly taken a banned substance. Though the suspension is hard financially and reputation-ally, it may be a positive for the Patriots. Ninkovich was looking at a late September return from his torn triceps at the earliest, and New England no longer has to keep him on the 53-man roster or rush his recovery for at least the first four weeks.

Ninkovich, who tore his triceps on Aug. 9, was present at the start of Sunday's practice before moving on to the Patriots' lower field to do conditioning work, ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Initial Boston Herald reports suggested that Ninkovich's return would be a matter of "weeks, not months." While it's unclear when the defensive end might be able to practice fully, his presence on the field Sunday, in any capacity, is a positive sign nonetheless.