We probably do not need him for the regular season.
If he can come back for the playoffs, then we are fine. It would be great to have him vs the Rams or 49ers but honestly, I wouldn't even risk it. Get him and Carson enough game time to not be rusty during the playoffs, but otherwise shelve them. Even if it means a likely loss to the Rams or 49ers.
He has been a revelation. And is important enough for this team to advance in the playoffs that keeping him back is worth losing a game or 2 in the standings.
(Remember Javon Kearse? Sort of a cross between Jason Taylor, DK Metcalf, and Dwight Freeney? Absolutely wrecked QBs for half the season, then got injured and kept missing the playoffs. Never understood why the Eagles didn't just hold him out for most of the year and let him loose in the playoffs. He would have been a terror, especially with Hugh Douglas on the other side. They didn't. They were stupid. And so that team only made the SB once.)
We don't need to make the same mistake.
Keep your game wreckers off the field until the playoffs if there is an injury concern. Older players are ALWAYS an injury concern (see Irvin and Olson). No reason to risk it. My worry is they rush him back, not that they don't have him for the next 3-5 games.
Give him limited burn in the 1st playoff game (if a wildcard) or last reg season game (if we have the Div).