He will be back this season. How can you start shooting in January and not even be a possibility that he will be back in May or April even?
Yup, he's right on track with where I hoped he'd be.
Walking without boot in early Dec.
Walking around without brace and shooting in early Jan (2.5 months from surgery).
Ramp up PT by early Feb and seriously start working out/strengthening the ankle (3.5 months from surgery, re-injury unlikely).
Two months of that with no set backs, and there's no way he wouldn't be running drills and walking through practice by early April.
Full speed a couple weeks later (mid-April, when the 1st round starts), and if we're still not seeing any set backs, no reason he can't be cleared for contact at any point after that (best-case estimate).
I certainly don't think we need him until the 3rd and 4th series anyway, so mid to late May, or even June works (if you prefer a much more conservative estimate).
Those people who continue to say it's unlikely he'll be back 7 months removed from surgery are just doomsayers. It would be a quick recovery, yes, but that's exactly what a recovery without set backs is. And if he keeps progressing without pain or swelling, there's 0 reason to hold him out or slow his recovery.
The fact that he can do light shooting and move around without a brace 1/3 of the way through that recovery timeline is uplifting news. Too bad there will be a lot of "no way he'll return this season" nonetheless.