TAMPA — Jake Cousins is about to start his road back to the Yankees.

• The reliever, who arrived at camp with a forearm strain, is set to initiate a throwing program on Monday. This action signifies the conclusion of an almost five-week period of inactivity.
• Monday will represent around three weeks after the remaining pitchers commenced spring training. However, the majority of them had already begun throwing bullpen sessions upon their arrival, placing Cousins over three weeks behind schedule.

Cousins said he got the forearm re-imaged a few days ago and it looked “really good.”

“I’m ready to go,” he said Wednesday morning at Steinbrenner Field.

There was some thought to having Cousins start playing catch Friday, but doing so would not affect his timeline, he said.

“So we’re like, let’s just give it an extra two days to make sure things are done and then progress from there,” Cousins said.

Cousins will not be ready by Opening Day, but if everything goes well with his throwing program, he may not be too far behind.

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In other injury news, Clarke Schmidt (back) threw a two-up bullpen session Tuesday and expects to throw a live batting practice by this weekend.