Pats Pulpit
After opening the week with an estimation, the New England Patriots ramped up work with a practice.
Tight end Austin Hooper and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer stayed sidelined on a cold Tuesday in Foxborough. But five others, including running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings, went in a limited capacity as the New York Jets near.
Here’s the second injury report ahead of Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.
Hooper entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after starting and staying in for 34 out of 61 offensive snaps last weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran tight end was projected as the team’s lone non-participant on Monday. But a downgraded defensive tackle joined him on Tuesday because of an ankle injury. Farmer has appeared in every game during his rookie campaign, logging 11 tackles, one stop for loss, one fumble recovery, one batted pass as well as one start.
New England’s running back depth has been tested since the end of October. But things are trending in the right direction. Stevenson had been ruled out for back-to-back games with a toe injury before officially returning to practice this week. And Jennings was also on hand as a partial participant. The recent 53-man roster promotion went from questionable to out during the 28-23 win at Raymond James Stadium. The organization re-signed Jonathan Ward to the practice squad heading into Thursday night’s AFC East matchup. Amid the attrition, fellow veteran D’Ernest Johnson has served as a standard elevation for consecutive weeks.
After no Patriots were estimated as full participants to begin the short week, that changed on Tuesday. The upgraded group of eight would include another member of the offensive backfield. Henderson had been checked for a knee issue against the Buccaneers. The No. 38 overall pick out of Ohio State clocked rushing touchdowns from 55 and 69 yards away during the road trip.
