Foxborough, Mass. ? Tedy Bruschi handled the hits his teammates dished out in practice. Whether he’ll get a chance for more contact in Sunday night’s game remains uncertain.

The energetic catalyst of the New England Patriots’ defense who had a mild stroke 81â2 months ago must await coach Bill Belichick’s decision whether he’ll play against the Buffalo Bills.

“I’d like to get out there and see,” Bruschi said before Wednesday’s practice, his second with contact. “But it’s out of my control now. I’m back. I’m a player. I’m a member of the team. So I’ve trusted my coaches ever since I was in high school.”

After a bye week, the Patriots are home Sunday night for their first division game of the season. There’s still time for his excitement to build and Bruschi expects that to happen soon.

“It’s Wednesday,” he said. “I think I’ll start to feel excited come the weekend.”

Bruschi returned to practice Oct. 19 after receiving medical clearance, but there was no contact until Monday’s session. After an initial anxiety, he said he felt fine during that practice.

“It felt like a first day of training camp for me before I really get my first hit in training camp,” he said. “So, of course, the first play they run at me is a fullback lead. So after that play, I think I was all right.”

Bruschi was hospitalized Feb. 16 after the stroke, then had surgery to close a hole in his heart in March. He has been working out and attending team meetings since training camp began last July. He said in September he wouldn’t play this season, then changed his mind after consulting several doctors.

He remains on the physically unable to perform list but wasn’t among the 14 players listed on the Patriots’ injury report Wednesday.

“I feel I’m being evaluated by Coach Belichick, by my defensive coaches,” Bruschi said.

Belichick said Wednesday that Bruschi hadn’t suffered any setbacks since resuming practice, but didn’t know how ready he is for a game.