New England Patriots fans, here's some welcome news straight from the locker room. Team captain Robert Spillane is back at the facility in Foxboro, and he's sharing an encouraging update on his recovery from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the final four games of the regular season.

Spillane, a key leader on defense, went down in Week 13, forcing him to miss crucial snaps down the stretch. While he managed to return for the playoffs, he admits he wasn't at full strength. Now, with optional April workouts underway, the linebacker is focused on getting back to 100%—and the best part? No surgery required.

"No surgery," Spillane told reporters Tuesday. "Take care of myself. The guys upstairs in the weight room also take care of me. So we've had a great plan and just continue to progress."

It's a relief for a Patriots team that's already navigating a busy offseason of roster changes. The linebacker room looks drastically different from the one Spillane last suited up with, but the captain isn't dwelling on the turnover. Instead, he's praising the teammates who stepped up in his absence.

"Just so proud of guys stepping up behind me," Spillane said. "Obviously, you want to do everything you can to get back out on the field. You hate missing snaps. You hate feeling like you're letting your team down every time you're not on the field. But I'm just really proud of the guys that stepped up and made big plays when it came to (me) getting healthy."

For Patriots fans, this positive update is a bright spot as the team rebuilds and prepares for the upcoming season. With a healthy Spillane back in the fold, New England's defense can anchor itself around a proven leader who's eager to prove he's ready to go.