Dont'a Hightower feels good and hopes to keep it that way

FOXBORO – For Dont’a Hightower, enough was enough.

The linebacker has dealt with injuries through his NFL career, but last year’s stint on the injured reserve made him look at things differently. The 28-year-old has only once played a full 16 games, but never has he missed the playoffs like he did last year.

After only play five games and watching the rest of the season from afar, Hightower has rededicated himself to try to stay on the field. [...]

FOXBORO – For Dont’a Hightower, enough was enough.

The linebacker has dealt with injuries through his NFL career, but last year’s stint on the injured reserve made him look at things differently. The 28-year-old has only once played a full 16 games, but never has he missed the playoffs like he did last year.

After only play five games and watching the rest of the season from afar, Hightower has rededicated himself to try to stay on the field.

“The biggest thing, I try to hit those small muscles that you’re not always hitting. Trying to treat those more and maybe a different rehab routine,” Hightower said. “More acupuncture, soft tissue and things of those nature that I’ve been really educated on since the injury. I feel good now and I’m going to continue on that throughout the year. Hopefully, that’ll hold me tight.

“It sucks for that to be the reasoning for that, but it’s career and it’s something you learn on the move. I haven’t taken it for granted and I’m going to continue to stay on top of that.”

The Patriots certainly hope Hightower can stay on the field. The 2012 first-round pick was named to his first Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro during the 2016 season. He signed a four-year, $35.5 million contract that offseason and came into 2017 with high hopes. Instead, the pectoral injury cost him a chance to follow up with more accolades.

This offseason, Hightower continued to rehab and says he felt good physically.  He hopes to build off the solid summer this weekend when the Patriots take on Houston in their first regular season game.

“Within those first couple days of training camp, just physiologically just getting that comfort back down. I felt good and I’ve been running with that,” Hightower said. “I’ve stayed on top of this rehab and everything, but it’s kept me busy and I’m going to do what I can, to what I need to do to stay on the field.”