The right-arm quick returned from injury in the second test against New Zealand in Christchurch but was then sidelined due to a bone stress injury in his leg and then a relapse of stress fractures in his back.
The 26-year-old said he was considering a grade-cricket comeback in early November, with a potential start in the Melbourne Renegades' Twenty20 Big Bash campaign and a Sheffield Shield game before Christmas.
"I'm off my long run next week. I'll probably be playing grade cricket in the next couple of weeks and then see how I go from there," Pattinson told reporters.
"I haven't ruled out playing international cricket (this summer). I probably won't play test cricket."
Australia begin a three-test series against South Africa next month before hosting New Zealand for three one-day internationals and three tests against Pakistan.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Peter Rutherford)
