FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount, who missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday because of an illness, joined teammates for morning meetings on Friday and was later removed from the team's injury report.

That is a positive development regarding his availability for Saturday night's divisional-round playoff game against the Houston Texans and adds context to the severity of the illness he has been dealing with this week.

Blount led the Patriots with 1,161 yards on 299 carries and 18 touchdowns this season. The 18 rushing touchdowns, a Patriots single-season record, were the most for any running back in the NFL since Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings had 18 in the 2009 season.

The Patriots have been splitting carries between Blount and Dion Lewis down the homestretch, with James White the top "passing back" option.

The only player on the Patriots' injury report is rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who is questionable (knee).