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FOXBORO - Only Laurence Maroney could link the fortunes of the Patriots' running backs to a Japanese anime cartoon.

"We're just missing Fred (Taylor), and I'm not going to feel complete until Fred gets back on the field," Maroney told reporters Friday. "Slowly but surely, we're reconnecting like Voltron."

Voltron is a cartoon robot that splits into five pieces and reconnects to fight evil and save the universe. It hasn't been established which of the Patriots' five running backs - Maroney, Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis - are the head, arms and legs of their version of Voltron, or if there might be a few screws loose in that assembly.

At least one of those missing appendages is likely to be back in action Sunday when the Patriots entertain the New York Jets (4:15 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12). Morris, who suffered a knee injury in the Tennessee game and has missed the following three, is getting closer to being ready to return to active duty.

But he's not sure yet. "I don't know. I'm taking it day-by-day, and we'll know Sunday," he said.

Morris would add depth to a backfield that has been running shorthanded for more than a month. Taylor went out in the Baltimore game and had ankle surgery soon thereafter, although he's expected to return late in the season.

"Just in any regard, anybody in our group would tell you that we're team guys and we're excited about getting out there and helping the team, whether it's the run game or the pass game," Morris said. "Protection-wise as well, it's doing anything we can to help the team win."

Morris said it made sense to take every precaution with his injury.

"That's just kind of a case when something happens to your knees or ankles, you're a little more cautious or scared about the extent of the injury," he said. "When I wake up, I may feel good, but then it's, 'am I good enough to play a game?' I don't know. We'll take it day-by-day and I'll keep doing what I can to get out there."

Patriots' coach Bill Belichick didn't admit to being a Voltron fan during his daily press conference, but he did say that getting the injured running backs back on the field couldn't be anything but good, especially since worsening weather usually demands that teams be able to run the ball with confidence.

"It's hard to go into the season without depth at that position," Belichick said. "I have confidence in all of our running backs, but only one guy can carry the ball at any one time. They can all be successful in what we ask of them."

Quick kicks

With Sebastian Vollmer playing so well at left tackle and presumed starter Matt Light having returned to practice, Belichick was asked if Light could play right tackle. "Well, that's what he did when I brilliantly put him there when we drafted him," Belichick said. The coach went on to say that Light quickly proved he was a better left tackle than a right tackle, and that Light may have had a better rookie season if he had been on the left side all along ... Junior Seau hasn't played for two weeks, but the 40-yerar-old linebacker could be back in the mix for the Jets. Belichick said the Colts' no-huddle tendencies limited substitutions. "Every game is different," he said ... Belichick said he hasn't had to remind his players of the importance of a game against a divisional rival. "It's almost like a game and a half," he said.