Patriots Injury Situation Improves
Miami's Taylor Yet to Practice
The season has taken a sour turn for tight end Kyle Brady who apparently injured a foot early in the second half of Sunday's win over New York. Brady has yet to practice this week. The Patriots signed tight end Stephen Spach last week, and he played most of the second half Sunday. Expect to see more of him this week.
Fellow tight end Ben Watson remains listed with an ankle injury, though he has practiced in limited capacity both days.
Backup guard Billy Yates has also missed both practices. Yates was inactive Sunday, and it doesn't look good for this week.
Starting guard Stephen Neal, also inactive Sunday, appears to be improving, as he has participated in both practices this week. His shoulder continues to nag him.
Both safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Adalius Thomas missed Thursday's practice, the reason for both listed as "team decision."
Five of Miami's defensive front seven are nursing injuries. Most worrisome for the Dolphins is Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor who injured his foot earlier in the season and evidently aggravated the injury Sunday against Baltimore. Taylor has not practiced this week.
Like Taylor, starting outside linebacker Channing Crowder has missed both of Miami's practices. Booked starting OLB Joey Porter sat out Wednesday, but did practice partly Thursday. So did defensive tackle Keith Traylor. Taylor's bookend Matt Roth has been limited in practice both days.
A couple more Patriots roster notes:
New England waived defensive backs Rashad Baker and Eddie Jackson on Tuesday. Oakland signed Baker on Wednesday. Baker played occasionally on defense and mostly on special teams in seven games for the Patriots this season. Jackson spent most of the season on the physically unable to perform list and played only briefly against Buffalo and Philadelphia.
The Patriots also signed defensive lineman Rashad Moore. Moore spent training camp in New England and he has nose tackle experience in the 3-4 defense. Moore shores up the line with Mike Wright lost to injured reserve after the Baltimore game.
That leaves New England with an open roster spot. No indication of their plans to fill it.