"Marcus Cannon 1, Cancer 0.

That officially became the score yesterday, when the Patriots [team stats] rookie offensive lineman practiced for the first time since he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a treatable form of the disease, prior to the NFL draft. The TCU product opened the season on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Cannon has a three-week window in which to practice with the Pats before the team must decide whether to activate him.

Yesterday, the best news was that Cannon was healthy enough to be on the field. The fifth-round draft pick with second-round talent has been working behind the scenes since he finished his eighth chemotherapy treatment in July."