Bill O'Brien revealed Wednesday the lackluster return from an Achilles injury by second-year running back D'Onta Foreman was due to rust and a late-season return to the team, not lingering effects from injury.

"I think anytime you get injured your rookie year I think that's hard," O'Brien said. He characterized Foreman's rehab as a "tough" one coming back from the torn Achilles. He also said there were "ups and downs" with Foreman's rehab.

"He worked at the rehab but at the end of the day he just wasn't on schedule until the end of the year," O'Brien said. "So when he came on in the end of the year it was almost too late. He was rusty, hadn't played a lot of football."

There was serious concern about Foreman's ability to bounce back from the injury. A study in Foot and Ankle International deduced running backs see significant drop-off in their abilities and talent after an Achilles injury.

O'Brien didn't see that in Foreman. He said when Foreman returned, despite the poor production, he didn't see the big rollback in his skills.

"All of that was there," O'Brien said.

Despite the body being right Foreman managed to see action in just one game in the regular season rushing for negative one yards and catching two passes for 28 yards and one touchdown.

Foreman is heading into his third season with the team and O'Brien said it is a "big year" for Foreman and "he knows that" when it comes to the expectations for him. O'Brien had faith his third-year back would meet the challenge.

"I think he'll be ready to go."