FOXBOROUGH -- Rookie linebacker Dont’a Hightower returned to the Patriots’ lineup against the Jets on Sunday after missing two games with a hamstring injury. He wanted to be out there sooner.

“It felt good [to be back],” Hightower said. “I definitely wanted to be out there a little bit earlier, but we were cautious of that, waited it out, got treatment. I feel a lot better, so no looking back now. I’m doing everything I can to prevent a hamstring pull or anything like that again, doing everything I can to stay on the field.”