Cassel

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When the first of the three buses that bring the New England Patriots coaches and players from their hotel in nearby Santa Clara to San Jose State University pulled up to the curb yesterday, Matt Cassel was one of those who stepped off.

The quarterback, who learned this week that his father Greg died on Monday night, returned to work with his teammates, participating in practice after missing Wednesday’s session.

Cassel’s return would seem to signify that he will play on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders; the funeral for Greg Cassel will reportedly be held Monday.

Matt Cassel was welcomed back by his teammates.

“It is hard to speak because I have never really lost a loved one,” Heath Evans said. “Obviously, you think maybe being around the guys might ease it a bit. I don’t know that for a fact, but I know I just wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him I loved him. At this time, that is probably the only thing you know to do. So, hopefully we can be some encouragement to him and see how that helps him.”

The 57-year-old Greg Cassel worked as a Hollywood screenwriter and also as a horse trainer. Though he and Barbara Cassel divorced about a dozen years ago, he remained a fixture in the lives of his four children.

In an interview with the Boston Globe in September, Greg Cassel told the story of how, on Sept. 7, when he heard that Tom Brady had been injured against Kansas City and his son was taking over the offense, he rushed from his home in San Bernadino, Calif., to a nearby casino where he could watch the game.

Matt Cassel has since blossomed in his role as a starter, and will be a hot commodity when he hits free agency in a couple of months.

For now, however, he is likely finding solace in the work of preparing for the Raiders and with the teammates he spends so much time with.

“I think it would be good for Matt,” Mike Vrabel said. “I don’t think anyone can really relate to losing a parent, especially a father, but what we do is we play football and we’ve got a group, a support staff in there and hopefully he can lean on his teammates.”

Vince Wilfork is one of those who may know. Wilfork’s father died of diabetes-related complications when Wilfork was in college; his mother passed away six months later.

“I saw him and he thanked me for sending [a condolence text message] and I was like, ‘I’m here if you need me; I know what you’re going through,’  ” Wilfork said. “Some people handle it differently, but he knows he has a bunch of guys, brothers, on this team that are here for him with open arms.

“So if he needs to cry or whatever, if he needs to get something off his chest, however he wants to express himself, he can do that.”

Cassel understandably did not hold his now-customary Thursday press conference yesterday.

“It’s good to have him back,” Logan Mankins said. “We’re sorry for what happened to him and I’m sure it’s tough on him right now, but I’m sure he’s going to fight through it and have a good week.”

smanza@projo.com