Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says his elbow injury ‘won’t be an issue’ going forward

Leading up to his team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Brady suddenly popped up on the New England Patriots’ injury report because of an elbow injury — one that limited him both in practice and the actual games over the next five weeks. Leading up to last Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, however, the 42-year-old was finally removed from the practice report and he promptly played one of his best games of the season.

While the quarterback’s elbow was not the only reason for New England’s offensive struggles after its Week 10 bye, the ailment certainly did not make things any easier for a unit trying to finally finds its groove in the passing game. Now, however, Brady appears to be closer to full strength — and according to the man himself, the elbow will not be an issue moving forward as he pointed out during an interview on Westwood One radio.

“No, it won’t be an issue going forward,” the future Hall of Famer told host Jim Gray when asked about a recent report that he was dealing with a tennis elbow. “I just got hit on it a few times and any time you get hit with helmets and bones, sometimes they get a little banged up. I really try and take good care of myself. I certainly can’t imagine feeling any better than I do right now going into the last week of the year.”

“I am excited for what is ahead for our team,” he continued. “I am excited for what we can accomplish. We have to take care of business this week first. Then, we will get a chance if we win to take a deep breath and evaluate where we’re at and what we need to do moving forward. But physically I feel great and nobody is better than Alex Guerrero, who I work with and has been my body coach and one of my best friends.”

Against the Bills, Brady was certainly slinging the football on his normal high level: he completed 78.8% of his pass attempts for 271 yards and a touchdown, and also moved around the pocket well. Even if the elbow was still bothering the Patriots’ quarterback, it did not seem to impact his performance in any meaningful way — which is certainly good news for the team with the playoffs on the horizon.

Brady did not only speak about this short-term outlook during the interview, however, but also talked about his future in pro football. There has, after all, been considerable speculation about his long-term outlook in New England over the last few months given his status as a free-agent-to-be and with him also putting his house in Brookline on the market. But while he did not commit to returning to the Patriots, his answer was still predictable.

“I have said for a long time, and my tune has not changed, I hope to continue playing,” Brady told Gray. “I’ve had long-term goals. I have short-term goals [as well] and again, football is a contact sport. You never know when your last game is going to be and you count your blessings every time you walk off the field healthy.”