Inside The Bills

Burkhead, Branch out for Patriots Sunday

Neither Rex Burkhead nor Alan Branch were expected to be ready to play on Sunday against the Bills for New England and that has proven to be the case.

Branch is out again this week with a knee injury and RB Rex Burkhead is out with the same malady.

A long list of Patriots are questionable including fellow running backs James White and Brandon Bolden. Their questionable nature for Sunday’s game almost ensures that Mike Gillislee will be active this weekend after being a healthy scratch for the past six weeks.

LB Kyle Van Noy and WR Chris Hogan are among the other notable players who are questionable for the game.

Player              Pos.                  Injury               Status

Patriots RB corps nicked up

By now most know about Rex Burkhead’s knee injury suffered last week. He did not practice for a second straight day Thursday and is not expected to suit up Sunday against the Bills. But he’s not the only running back on New England’s roster nursing an injury.

RB James White (ankle) and RB Brandon Bolden (groin) are both dealing with injuries as well and were limited in practice again on Thursday. It’s looking more and more likely that Mike Gillislee is active for Sunday’s game against his former teammates.

Pats without Burkhead, Branch at practice

A former Bills player and the Patriots most productive running back did not practice on Wednesday. DL Alan Branch and RB Rex Burkhead were both held out of New England’s Wednesday practice.

Burkhead was injured in last week’s game against Pittsburgh.

Here’s a look at the Patriots full injury report.

Cannon, Hogan not looking good for Pats

The Patriots may not have one of their offensive tackles and WR Chris Hogan on Sunday.

Both players missed practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday. New England had a host of players limited in practice included Tom Brady, who got Wednesday off due to a sore Achilles.

Brady doesn’t practice, and why it means nothing

Patriots QB Tom Brady did not practice on Wednesday due to an Achilles that’s been bothering him. He was listed on New England’s injury report last week and missed Wednesday’s practice leading up to the Dolphins game last Sunday and started. In fact, back in October he had a sprained AC joint and missed two days of practice and still started against the Jets.

Perhaps more important for Tom Brady’s health is the fact that two of his offensive tackles are injured and did not practice either. Starting RT Marcus Cannon has missed the last three games with an ankle injury and swing tackle LaAdrian Waddle, who has been filling in for him, was hurt early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury himself. Neither of them practiced today, which would leave Cameron Fleming as the starter at right tackle.

New England’s best defensive end, Trey Flowers was limited with a rib injury suffered in last week’s game.

Bennett, Collins, Edelman still limited for Pats

The Patriots are a relatively healthy group heading into their division matchup with the Bills on Sunday. Some key players were limited in practice Wednesday. Martellus Bennett, Jamie Collins and Julian Edelman were also limited Thursday.

None of those players however, are expected to miss Sunday’s game in Buffalo barring a setback.

Bennett, Collins, Edelman limited

The Patriots had a host of limited participants in practice on Wednesday, though there wasn’t a single player who was unable to practice.

The most notable names include TE Martellus Bennett, LB Jamie Collins and WR Julian Edelman.

Pats QBs Brissett & Garoppolo questionable 

New England’s quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bills. 

Both signal callers were again limited in practice Friday. Most national reports are indicating that Brissett will start at quarterback Sunday. Some media outlets are reporting that Garoppolo has a second degree shoulder separation in Weeks 2 against Miami. 

No word as to whether Garoppolo would be able to serve as a backup Sunday. 

Here is the rest of New England’s injury report. 

QUESTIONABLE

OT Marcus Cannon – calf

G Jonathan Cooper – foot

LB Jonathan Freeny – shoulder

TE Rob Gronkowski – hamstring

LB Dont’a Hightower – knee

CB Eric Rowe – ankle

QB Jacoby Brissett – right thumb

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – right shoulder 

Brissett, Garoppolo, Gronk all limited again

The Patriots injury report had few surprises on Thursday. Both quarterbacks were again listed as limited participants.

That’s because New England’s Thursday practice was just a walk through after the team practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The team under NFL rules has to list players based on what their level of participation would be if it were a full scale practice. Rob Gronkowski was also listed as limited.

Patriots report WR Dobson now questionable

The New England Patriots have issued a statement that WR Aaron Dobson has been added to the injury report with a back injury today.

Dobson is listed as questionable. No word as to how or when the injury surfaced, but it could further deplete New England’s receiving corps if he’s unable to play. Dobson is the team’s fourth wideout behind Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola and Keshawn Martin, though Martin is also questionable with a hamstring injury.

We’ll have the inactives for both the Patriots and Bills published here about 90 minutes before kickoff tonight.

Pats LB Collins out, 3 OL questionable

The Patriots already knew they would be without WR Julian Edelman for Monday night’s game against the Bills. They were hoping however, to get LB Jamie Collins back after a two-game absence. That will not happen in Week 11.

Collins, who has been battling illness the past few weeks, was listed as out on Saturday for New England along with Edelman.

Questionable for the Patriots are three offensive linemen including their two starting offensive tackles in Sebastian Vollmer (concussion) and Marcus Cannon (toe). Both were limited in practice this week. Both missed New England’s game last week against the Giants.

DE Chandler Jones, who was battling through an abdominal injury and was limited all week in practice is probable.

OUT
WR Julian Edelman – foot
LB Jamie Collins – illness
CB Justin Coleman – hand

QUESTIONABLE
OT Marcus Cannon – toe
OT Sebastian Vollmer – concussion
G Tre’ Jackson – knee
WR Keshawn Martin – hamstring

PROBABLE
DL Alan Branch – elbow
DE Chandler Jones – abdomen
OL Shaq Mason – knee
DE Jaball Sheard – ankle

Pats LB Collins misses practice, 4 OL limited

The shoe is on the other foot here in the second half of the season. After the Bills experienced life without their top two running backs, their starting QB and their top two wide receivers, it’s the Patriots that have a laundry list of injuries.

New England LB Jamie Collins, one of the biggest playmakers on their defense, did not practice for a second straight day. He’s missed the last two games. Their top pass rusher, Chandler Jones, who leads the league in sacks was also limited for a second day with an abdominal injury.

Meanwhile four of their offensive linemen including their two starting offensive tackles were limited again Friday in practice. Both tackles missed last week’s game against the Giants.

Pats LB Collins still not practicing

He’s missed each of the last two games for New England. Athletic LB Jamie Collins has been out with an illness and on Thursday he was unable to practice again. He and WR Julian Edelman were the only non-participants for New England.

The Patriots three injured offensive linemen all participated on a limited basis Thursday. Marcus Cannon, Tre’ Jackson and Sebastian Vollmer all missed last week’s game against the Giants.

The NFL’s sack leader, Chandler Jones, was also limited with an abdominal injury.

Pats likely to start 2 rookie OL

Last week the Patriots were forced to play a pair of rookies on the interior of their offensive line. They even had to add a third at times. It looks like they’ll need to start two Sunday against the Bills.

With starting G Ryan Wendell out for a second straight week with an illness, the Patriots are expected to flip G Josh Kline to Wendell’s position and start Shaq Mason as they did last week at LG. 

The task is obviously much tougher for the two rookies this week facing Buffalo’s vaunted defensive line in a road atmosphere. 

Here’s the rest of New England’s injury report. 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

OUT

G Ryan Wendell – Illness

DOUBTFUL

DT Dominique Easley – Hip

PROBABLE

RB Travaris Cadet – Hamstring

DE Trey Flowers – Knee

S Tavon Wilson – Quadricep

DT, OL still nicked for Patriots

The New England Patriots could be without one of their rotational defensive tackles and a starting offensive lineman on Sunday.

For the second straight day DT Dominique Easley did not practice due to a hip injury. Easley is starting DT Alan Branch’s backup.

Also starting RG Ryan Wendell was limited again on Thursday with an illness. He did not play in Week 1, which forced some shuffling on New England’s offensive line last week. It forced the Patriots to put two rookies on the offensive line, starting C David Andrews and LG Shaq Mason.

Patriots injury report

The Patriots are a relatively healthy group heading into their Week 2 matchup with the Bills, but despite getting an extra three days of rest having played last Thursday, there were still a couple of players that couldn’t participate fully in practice Wednesday. Here’s a look at the Pats injury report.

If Ryan Wendell is unable to play Sunday, New England will again be forced to start a pair of rookies on their offensive line at center and guard.

RB Gray, CB Dennard out for Patriots

Patriots RB Jonas Gray and CB Alfonzo Dennard will not be available for Sunday’s game against the Bills. Gray has been nursing an ankle injury all week and was ruled out after being unable to practice Friday. Meanwhile RB LeGarrette Blount, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury is questionable after being limited in practice all week.

Dennard was a late add to the injury report Friday along with starting OT Sebastian Vollmer, who sustained a back injury. He’s questionable. New England is hoping to get veteran G Dan Connolly back in the lineup Sunday after he missed last week’s game with a knee injury. He’s listed as questionable. WR Julian Edelman is also questionable. He also missed New England’s game against the Jets last week.

Blount, Edelman working back from injuries

There are a host of players on New England’s injury report who are practicing only on a limited basis, including RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Julian Edelman and G Dan Connolly, who all missed last week’s game against the Jets. Here’s the full rundown.

LIMITED IN PRACTICE
LS Danny Aiken (finger)
CB Kyle Arrington (hamstring)
RB LeGarrette Blount (shoulder)
CB Brandon Browner (groin)
LB Jamie Collins (hip)
G Dan Connolly (knee)
WR Julian Edelman (thigh, concussion)
T Cameron Fleming (ankle)
RB Jonas Gray (ankle)
LB Dont’a Hightower (shoulder)
DE Chandler Jones (hip)
WR Brandon LaFell (shoulder)
DE Rob Ninkovich (heel)
RB Shane Vereen (ankle)
LB Chris White (ankle)

FULL PRACTICE
QB Tom Brady (ankle)

Brady added as questionable for Sunday

The Patriots are a bit beat up on the defensive side of the ball, much like the Bills in advance of this Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, but the addition of New England QB Tom Brady as questionable is a bit of a surprise.

Brady was added to New England’s injury report Friday after being limited in practice due to an ankle injury. Over the years Brady has often been listed as probable with a shoulder injury, but questionable is a rather new designation for the signal caller. The only other quarterback on the Patriots roster is rookie Jimmy Garoppolo. It’s hard to believe that Brady would miss a game knowing his highly competitive nature.

Brady’s starting C Bryan Stork, another rookie, suffered a concussion in practice Thursday and did not practice Friday. He too is questionable for the game, which could prompt yet another offensive line shuffle in advance of a game.

Veteran guard Dan Connolly would presumably step in for Stork if he cannot play Sunday.

Pats add pair to injury report

The New England Patriots are nicked up on defense. On Thursday they added a pair of players to their injury report including their starting center.

The Pats added CB Brandon Browner to the injury report Thursday with an ankle injury. Starting center, rookie Bryan Stork was also a non-participant Thursday with a head injury. DL Dominique Easley also went from a limited participant Wednesday to a non-participant Thursday.