FOXBOROUGH — Dion Lewis has a healthy outlook on 2017 — and while that’s a dream scenario for the Patriots, it’s likely to cause some nightmares for their opponents.
Moving with the burst and explosiveness first displayed when he burst onto the New England scene in the spring of 2015, Lewis enjoyed an excellent minicamp last week.
Lewis was shifty and seamless as he darted through bag drills under the watchful eyes and booming voice of running backs coach Ivan Fears. He was sudden and smooth during pass routes as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels offered encouragement and teaching points.
All the developments on the field were positive for the 5-foot-8-inch, 195-pounder, but perhaps the best news came at the camp’s conclusion. That’s when Lewis declared he felt the “best I have in a long time.’’
Lewis provided a shot of adrenaline every time he touched the ball in 2015, displaying both zip and toughness, allowing him to run inside or around the edge out of the backfield. He was equally adept at receiving and piled up more than 600 yards of total offense before an ACL tear in Week 7 ended his season.
He returned a scant seven months later, generating excitement during an OTA session. A setback and second surgery on the knee — a cleanup procedure — forced him to miss training camp and the first nine weeks of the 2016 season.
He was solid through the rest of the season but appeared a tick slower, that trademark explosiveness and change of direction were missing.
Though minicamp offers only a glimpse of real football, Lewis showed plenty of glimpses of his old self on the back fields of Gillette Stadium.
“It’s exciting,’’ Lewis said, when asked what a relief it is to be participating fully. “I love to play football, so whenever I get to do that, no matter if it’s OTAs, training camp, the season, whenever I get a chance to do that, I’m happy to do it and I’m blessed to do it, so I just come out here and work as hard as I can every day and help the team as best I can.’’
Bill Belichick lauded Lewis’s work ethic and dedication and said the dynamo is way ahead of where he was at this point last year.
“A lot further. I think Dion’s building on his last however many weeks of the regular season — and the playoffs, so he’s had a good offseason,’’ the coach said before the final session of minicamp. “He’s built on that. I mean, he really worked hard to get back for the end of last year, and then this year, he’s been able to improve on that. Again, anxious to see him in training camp, but he’s done a good job out there.’’
Lewis, who appears fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered late in Super Bowl LI, said being on the field at OTAs and minicamp — he was limited to rehab and classroom work at this point last year — is vital because they are the building blocks for training camp and beyond.
“It’s great,’’ he said. “Just to pick up on all the important little coaching points that you go over in the meetings and having a chance to come out here and apply it before training camp.
“When you’re in training camp you’re playing a lot faster, and I didn’t get that chance last year. So, I’m just soaking everything in and do everything the best I can and pay attention to details so when the bullets start flying a little faster when the pads are on, I’m confident and I know exactly what to do.’’
The Patriots added veteran free agents Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead to an already talented backfield group that includes Super Bowl hero James White and second-year player D.J. Foster. Lewis likes the additions and the competition they create.
“Every year there’s turnover in the NFL. Every year you’re in training camp with other running backs, so no matter who the names are or who they bring in, you just got to worry about how well you compete and you have to be ready to compete,’’ said Lewis. “You can’t think about who they brought in or why they brought them in. You just got to compete against those guys and do the best you can and try to get yourself a role on the team.’’
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.
