After losing to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the New England Patriots have returned to the practice fields to prepare for another NFC West team: the San Francisco 49ers. Today, both the Patriots and their week 11 opponents have released their first injury reports of the season.
The Patriots’ looks as follows:
TE Rob Gronkowski (Chest): Did not practice
TE Martellus Bennett (Ankle): Limited participation
DT Alan Branch (Back): Limited participation
WR Julian Edelman (Foot): Limited participation
WR Chris Hogan (Back): Limited participation
The limited participants were all listed on last week’s final injury report as well. Despite that, all four were active on Sunday against the Seahawks and played more (Bennett, Branch, Edelman) and less (Hogan) prominent roles. Consequently, they should all be ready to make the trip to San Francisco.
The same cannot be said for Rob Gronkowski, the lone absentee of today’s practice session, just yet. The game’s best tight end suffered an undisclosed chest injury against Seattle, which has put his availability for the upcoming game in jeopardy. Ideally, the Patriots give him all the time needed — and then some — to fully recover from the injury, even if this means missing Sunday’s game.
Quarterback Tom Brady, on the other hand, was not listed on the injury report. He was limping after he took a hit to the knee-area on Sunday but apparently was able to practice without limitations today.
While New England’s injury report is rather short, San Francisco’s is not:
WR Torrey Smith (Shoulder): Did not participate
CB Tramaine Brock (Hamstring): Limited participation
DT Quinton Dial (Knee/Neck): Limited participation
DT Glenn Dorsey (Knee): Limited participation
LB Eli Harold (Toe): Limited participation
OC Daniel Kilgore (Hamstring/Calf): Limited participation
LB Aaron Lynch (Ankle): Limited participation
CB Rashard Robinson (Knee): Limited participation
OG Zane Beadles (Ankle/Knee): Full participation
RB Carlos Hyde (Shoulder): Full participation
FS Eric Reid (Knee): Full participation
On the same day as Bill Belichick lauded Smith as one of the NFL’s big play threats, the wide receiver missed practice due to a shoulder injury.