FOXBORO, Mass. — Terry Glenn is back to help the New England Patriots' passing game. Now, they must figure out how to handle their other problems.

        The wide receiver reported for work Monday after his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy ended.

        “We're down right now, so we can use all the help we can get,” fullback Marc Edwards said.

        After a 65-day absence, Glenn met with coach Bill Belichick and passed his conditioning run. Just when he'll be able to help should be clearer Wednesday when he practices with the team for the first time since Aug. 3.

        “He wants to play this game. If he comes back and plays like we know Terry can play, then I think it'll be a big help to us,” wide receiver Troy Brown said, but “we had him last year. We still were 5-11.”

        Glenn played all 16 games last season for the first time in his five-year career, caught 79 passes, and led the team with 963 yards receiving.

        Brown topped the team with 83 catches, but Glenn is fourth in club history with 315 receptions.

        He'll return to a team expected to play without quarterback Drew Bledsoe for at least two more games, Belichick said. Bledsoe already has missed two games after he suffered internal bleeding following a hard hit by Mo Lewis of the New York Jets.

        Last Aug. 3, Glenn left training camp when he learned of the suspension. On Aug. 15, the team suspended him for the season because of the walkout, but that was overturned by an arbitrator.

        Glenn wasn't available for comment Monday.

        Belichick said most of what Glenn must show to return to action is football-related. Unresolved issues, such as Glenn's challenge to the team's withholding bonus money, will be handled according to established procedures, Belichick said.

        Glenn also is fighting charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness stemming from an alleged assault on the mother of his 5-year-old son. A hearing on several motions, including one to dismiss the case, is scheduled for Dec. 4.

        COLTS:

Jerome Pathon, the team's leading receiver after three games, has not practiced since suffering a sprained foot Sept. 30 and may not be ready to play Sunday against Oakland.

        On Monday, Indianapolis signed receiver Tony Simmons, a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots.

        TITANS:

Cornerback Samari Rolle will be out 3-to-4 weeks after bruising his spinal cord Sunday. Coach Jeff Fisher said doctors found the cornerback has a smaller compartment around his spinal cord, but not small enough to put Rolle in danger.

        GIANTS:

New York might not have a healthy halfback for Sunday's game with the St. Louis Rams. Tiki Barber has yet to run full speed on the hamstring he hurt a week ago against New Orleans, and Ron Dayne and Damon Washington both were injured as the Giants beat Washington on Sunday.

        PANTHERS:

An NFL official inspected Carolina's field Monday to check the progress the Panthers made in trying to improve their turf.

        The Ericsson Stadium field was awful two weeks ago, with large chunks of grass getting ripped up and huge divots developing throughout Carolina's game against Green Bay.

        Carolina plays host to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and team officials have been working frantically to get the grass in shape. They installed 20,000 square feet of thicker sod.

        FALCONS:

Coach Dan Reeves was unsure Monday who will start at quarterback this week if Chris Chandler can't play.

        The options are rookie Michael Vick, who played the entire second half to mixed reviews, or second-year backup Doug Johnson.

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