The New England Patriots quarterback had missed Wednesday’s session, but the team said his absence was not injury-related.
Comcast SportsNet reported that same day that Brady had X-rays to check for a separated left shoulder and was told he was “all set.”
Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Thursday: “If there was an injury then it would be on the injury report.”
Brady was listed on Thursday’s report as having participated on a limited basis with the shoulder injury.
He loosened up and ran with his teammates at the start of the practice while reporters were allowed to watch.
Brady landed hard on his left shoulder with 1:40 remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday when he was tackled by Kevin Burnett on a scramble in a 27-24 win over the Dolphins in which he also scored on two 1-yard sneaks.
The Patriots have one more practice today before a walkthrough Saturday for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Buffalo.
MCCOY SPEAKS
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy wants to move on from a concussion that ended his season, spawned a controversy and prompted the NFL to do more to treat injured players.
McCoy said Thursday that he’s “feeling better” and making progress from the concussion he sustained on Dec. 8 from a helmet-to-helmet hit delivered by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. McCoy, who has not been medically cleared to practice, refused to answer questions about what he recalls from the hit or what transpired in its aftermath.
McCoy, though, did praise Cleveland’s medical staff for its handling of the injury despite the team not testing him for a concussion on the sideline and sending him back in the game after two plays.
“Our medical staff does an outstanding job and that should never be in question,” said McCoy, speaking for the first time since he was diagnosed with the concussion.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
If Chris Long gets a sack in the St. Louis Rams’ finale, he will top the best season ever put together by his Hall of Fame father.
Long has 13 sacks, tied with dad Howie’s personal-best total from 1983. The younger Long points out that dad played most of his career as a tackle in a 3-4 defense. That made it tougher to rush the passer, he said.
“Let’s be real,” Long said. “I don’t really look to compete with my pops. I don’t know what he did that year but he had to fight a lot of double teams, so it’s pretty remarkable.”
DIRTY RAIDERS?
The Oakland Raiders are on pace to shatter the NFL record for penalties and yards penalized in a season.
Oakland heads into its season finale against San Diego needing four penalties for 11 yards to break both records set by the 1998 Chiefs.
EXTRA POINTS
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will have surgery today to repair his left knee, six days after he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. … Broncos safety Brian Dawkins watched practice, unable to participate for a second day because of a neck injury. … Saints running back Pierre Thomas was fined $12,500 for a uniform violation and a touchdown celebration in which he placed a ribbon bow on a football and gave it to a fan. … Bills receiver Brad Smith is unlikely to play in Buffalo’s season finale because of a hamstring injury.
