CHRIS Judd is slightly ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from Achilles tendon surgery and should return by round three, Carlton football manager Andrew McKay says.

Judd had surgery early last month after being troubled by ongoing Achilles tendinitis, with the Blues targeting a round three return for their former skipper at that time.

McKay told AFL.com.au on Friday that Judd had started running this week and should resume skills training with the Blues' main group in a week's time.

"Chris has had three or four sessions where he's run, which is good, and he's obviously been doing stationary skills as well," McKay said.

"He'll build up that running next week and then join in with the main group's skills work, probably late next week or early the following week just before our round two game against Richmond.

"The plan is that with two weeks of solid training he'll be right to go for round three against Essendon.

"He's maybe a little bit ahead of where we thought he'd be, but we don't want to get too excited and we're still looking at a round three return."

McKay said Blues vice-captain Andrew Carrazzo (calf) remained on track to return in round two, but former Brisbane Lion Sam Docherty (quadriceps) would most likely return a week later in the VFL with the Northern Blues.

Docherty had surgery last month where his quadriceps pain was traced to some floating fragments behind his kneecap, which were removed.

"Sam's almost had to get fit again really, but he's been going well," McKay said.

"He's been running and has started back with the skills work, but he'll be another couple of weeks away."