Methods for determining suitability of an implantable silk scaffold for use in human soft tissue repair by implanting a silk scaffold in a quadruped. The silk scaffold is completely or essentially completely bioresorbed by twelve months after implantation, the silk scaffold (to the extent remaining) with ingrown tissue shows at least about a 60% strength increase by 12 months after implantation, and the thickness of the silk scaffold (to the extent remaining) with ingrown tissue increases by more than 100% by 12 months after implantation.