The New England Patriots announced that veteran quarterback Tom Brady cancelled his Wednesday news conference due to a medical issue. According to WEEI.com, Brady was scheduled to speak to the media at Gillette Stadium days before their AFC Championship Game with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but a spokesperson announced that the quarterback had to cancel because he was meeting with the Patriots’ medical staff. Later in the day, the Patriots released the team’s injury report, which listed Brady as a limited participant in practice due to a right hand issue, per Patriots.com.
The Patriots need not worry as the 40-year-old Brady has rescheduled his weekly news conference several times this season. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider, the Brady medical issue “doesn’t sound like a major anything.” Before their Week 17 clash with the New York Jets, Brady has appeared in the injury report due to shoulder and Achilles issues, but was removed ahead of the game. A favorite to win the MVP award, Brady threw for over 4,500 yards and 32 touchdowns this season.
2 players absent in Wednesday’s practice
Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and cornerback Jonathan Jones were absent during Wednesday’s practice. The Patriots have until 4 p.m. Wednesday to activate Mitchell to the 53-man roster, but with his absence during practice, it means that the team will not do so.
Mitchell has been on the injured reserve all season with a knee injury, before he returned to practice in Week 17 as the second player designated to return off IR. Jones, for his part, suffered what looked like a foot/ankle injury in their AFC divisional round win over the Tennessee Titans.
An indication that the Patriots ended Mitchell’s season was the presence of a new No.
17 in practice, wide receiver and kick returner Bernard Reedy. If Reedy is promoted to the 53-man roster, the Patriots will have to place Jones on injured reserve. LaAdrian Waddle, who suffered a knee injury against the Titans, was spotted during practice, but he was riding a stationary bike as the rest of the team warmed up.
Patriots release injury report
Aside from Brady, listed as limited participants in Wednesday’s practice were defensive lineman Alan Branch and running backs Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee. Branch, Burkhead and Gillislee were all listed as having knee issues. For the Jaguars, free safety Tashaun Gipson and offensive lineman Patrick Omameh both missed practice due to foot injury and illness, respectively. Limited in practice were strong safety Barry Church, running back Leonard Fournette and defensive tackle Malik Jackson. Church is dealing with a shoulder issue while Fournette and Malik Jackson both have ankle issues.
