Here's what we
know .....
MITCHELL (knee) - began practicing with the team for the first time in over four months just last week leading up to the week-17 Jets finale (2 "contact practices" and a walkthru). The Wednesday and Thursday sessions this week, during the BYE, represent his second week practicing out of a maximum three weeks allowed on the "Designated to Return" roster exemption (he's currently the "54th" player). Since he's practicing on a roster exemption and not officially on the active roster yet, no official injury report status is published for him. All we actually "know" about his status is that he's been "present" during the warm-up portion of practices that are open to the media.
If he's to be made available for the playoffs, he'll need to be activated at the end of
next week's three practice sessions, and someone else will need to be waived in order to open a spot for him.
HOGAN (shoulder) - injured during week-8 (Chargers).
- Wk-9 (BYE) - "absent" from sessions (
no official injury status report during BYE weeks)
- Wk-10 thru Wk-13 - DNP and deactivated
- Wk-14
@Mia - LIMITED, activated, played 55 snaps (90%) - poorly and in obvious pain at times
- Wk-15, 16 & 17 - LIMITED, but deactivated
--- won a Practice Player of the Week award for practice contributions leading to the win over the Jets.
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
The availability of Hogan and/or Mitchell would likely enable an expansion of the mid-range (10-15 yards) part of the Pats passing attack that has been significantly reduced this season in the absence of Edelman and Mitchell, and almost non-existent (except for Amendola) during the last 8 games (with Hogan OUT).
BURKHEAD (knee) - injured during Wk-15 (@PIT)
- Wk-16 & 17 - DNP & deactivated for both games
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
WHITE (ankle) - injured in week-15 (@PIT).
- Wk-16 & 17 - LIMITED, but deactivated for both games
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
GILLISLEE (knee) - injured during week-16 (BUF).
- Wk-17 - DNP & deactivated
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "NOT present" for both practice sessions
WADDLE (ankle) - first appeared on the injury report for Wk-13 (@BUF)
Wk-13 - DNP the first practice session; LIMITED the next two - traveled with the team - ruled OUT after pre-game warm-ups
Wk-14 (
@Mia) - LIMITED, active - played one snap + 4 ST snaps (xP blocking unit)
Wk-15 thru Wk-17 - LIMITED, active - played 13, 4 & 6 snaps respectively (plus xP snaps)
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
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BRANCH (knee) -
- Wk-15, 16 & 17 - DNP and deactivated for all three games
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
VAN NOY (calf) - injured in week-12 (home game v. MIA).
- Wk-13 (BUF) - LIMITED, but active - played 15 snaps before apparently aggravating his injury
- Wk-14 (
@Mia) - DNP & deactivated
- Wk-15 & 16 - LIMITED, but deactivated
- Wk-17 - LIMITED, but active - played 12 snaps in relief of Roberts (who injured his shoulder) before being replace by Grigsby.
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions
LEE (ankle/finger) - first appeared on the injury report priot to Wk-15 (@PIT)
- Wk-15 & 16 - LIMITED (ankle only), but active, played 67% and 70% of the snaps - recorded 7 tackles
- Wk-17 LIMITED ("finger" added) first two practices; DNP on Friday - active, played 58% of the snaps - recorded a sack (safety) and two tackles
-Playoff BYE week - reported as "absent" for the first session (Tue), but "present" for the second
ROBERTS (shoulder)
- obvious dislocation during Wk-17 game (trainers popped it back in on the field)
- returned to the game for a few snaps afterward (Van Noy subbed in for him), but eventually Grigsby took over for both Roberts and Van Noy
- Playoff BYE week - reported as "present" for both practice sessions, but no official status update until next week
With the Divisional playoff game for the Pats being on Saturday, they'll probably practice Tue/Wed/Thu. Even next week's injury reports won't reveal much - except for players who are "DNP" for all three sessions. We won't really know anything official about Mitchell's status until the required roster move is made - possibly as late as Thursday after practice.