Patriots Practice Attendance: Shortened Media Window Leaves Questions
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — During the regular season, the New England Patriots allow a small window of access to practice for media members. There is usually enough time to take attendance, and not much else.
On Tuesday, there wasn’t even enough time for that. It was an unusual setting, as the team practiced on the game field inside the stadium, rather than the customary practice field on the south end of the stadium. From there, the media watched as the players took the field. One by one, they trickled up from the locker room.
With players still walking onto the field, the public relations staff sent media away. This leaves a potentially incomplete picture of who was (and wasn’t) at practice.
The players who were not present at the start of practice include quarterback Tom Brady, running back Stevan Ridley, safety Nate Ebner, linebacker Jerod Mayo, offensive lineman Dan Connolly, center Bryan Stork, and offensive lineman Cameron Fleming.
Absences for Ridley (knee), Ebner (finger), Mayo (knee), Connolly (concussion), Stork (concussion), and Fleming (finger) were not necessarily a surprise. The one surprise was Brady, who held a press conference earlier in the day. One could safely assume that he will practice today, but it’s still unclear how much he will practice, given the ankle injury he suffered in practice last week.
Other noteworthy items from the shortened access period: linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Brandon Browner were both spotted. Hightower (knee) has been limited in practice for the past couple weeks, and Browner (ankle) has not practiced since last Wednesday.
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