Injured Brady misses practice
Tom Brady hasn’t missed many starts during his 18-year NFL career, and no one sounds too worried that he’ll be sidelined for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Nonetheless, after Brady sat out the Patriots’ practice on Thursday — and did not speak to reporters as scheduled — there was plenty of speculation about the 40-year-old quarterback’s health.
Brady sat out with a right-hand injury after being limited by the same issue a day earlier as New England prepares for its matchup with Jacksonville.
Brady wore a glove on the injured hand during the stretching portion of practice that was open to reporters. He usually wears a glove only on his nonthrowing hand. He was listed as a nonparticipant on the injury report, and his news conference was postponed until Friday.
With scant official information about the nature of Brady’s injury, it fell to backup quarterback Brian Hoyer to address the situation. More than 50 reporters swarmed his locker as he walked through the locker room.
Hoyer said he didn’t see Brady get hurt and wouldn’t elaborate on how much he’s been able to do in practice the last two days.
“I’m always preparing to play, because the truth of reality is you never know when your name’s gonna be called,” he said.
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone expects his defense to line up against Brady, not Hoyer, on Sunday.
“I’m sure he can throw left-handed if he has a problem with his right hand, you know,” Marrone said.
Titans conduct interviews: The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach by interviewing Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel and Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.
Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans.
Wilks has only been a head coach at Savannah State in 1999. His first season as defensive coordinator with the Panthers was 2017.
Falcons retain Sarkisian: Steve Sarkisian will return as the Atlanta’s offensive coordinator despite a decline in production in his debut 2017 season.
Sarkisian has been the target of criticism after the Falcons lost at Philadelphia in the divisional round of the playoffs.