Patriots quiet about injury to QB Tom Brady’s throwing hand.
Speculation swirls around QB as AFC title game nears
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Three days before the AFC Championship Game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missed practice on Thursday because of an injury to his throwing hand.
Brady participated in warmups but not the practice session that followed, according to the team’s injury report.
Brady hurt his right hand when a teammate ran into him during a handoff in practice on Wednesday, the Globe reported. Precautionary X-rays showed no structural damage. Brady’s hand was cut on the play.
As to what teammate ran into him or what limitations, if any, Brady has, several Patriots deflected questions on Thursday.
“I don’t know. Define what is usual,” backup quarterback Brian Hoyer said when asked if he’d taken more snaps than he would have in a normal practice. Hoyer spoke before the injury report was released showing Brady hadn’t participated.
Air of secrecy
Hoyer said any questions about Brady’s hand would have to be directed to Brady, who postponed his news conference a day, until Friday. Brady did the same thing Wednesday, when he was supposed to speak with reporters but moved the session to meet with the team’s medical staff after practice.
Brady wore a pair of red gloves to the start of the outdoor practice, so his hand was hidden from view. At one point, between stretches, Brady and Hoyer talked while Brady gestured toward his injured hand.
Brady did not throw during the portion of the session open to the media.
By listing him as a nonparticipant, the Patriots said he did not do any meaningful work with the team. Brady was present for stretching.
Brady was on and off the injury report for most of the latter half of the regular season. He has dealt with Achilles’ and left shoulder injuries, but the right hand injury was new as of Wednesday, and the Achilles’ and left shoulder are no longer listed on the injury report.
Brady has never missed a playoff start in his 18-year career and hasn’t missed a start since he missed the final 15 games of the 2008 season after tearing his ACL in Week 1.
If necessary, Hoyer said he’d be ready to go on Sunday against the Jaguars.
“I mean, look, I prepare every week like I’m going to play,” Hoyer said. “Whether I do or I don’t, that’s not really up to me.
“I’ve played a lot of football. I’ve been the starter on three different teams. I know how to prepare as a starter.”
Hoyer said he didn’t see Brady’s injury occur. Running back James White said, with a sense of humor, that he couldn’t say whether he was the one who ran into Brady.
“The world may never know,” White said.
Safety Devin McCourty joked when asked how Brady looked on Thursday.
“Tom looks excellent every day,” McCourty said. “One of the best-looking people I’ve ever met.”
McCourty had a similar explanation for why he wasn’t able to provide details on what Brady’s hand looked like.
“When you look at Tom, the facial (region), it’s hard to look at anything else. So I really only saw his face,” McCourty joked.
‘I’m not a doctor’
Center David Andrews also said he wasn’t sure what happened. He declined to say whether Brady threw at all on Thursday.
“I’m not a doctor or anything like that,” Andrews said. “I am just focused on what I have to do to get ready this week. I don’t really remember.
“I’m not out there judging how he looks. I have a pretty tall task ahead of me trying to block this Jacksonville front. Like I said, that is what I am worried about. Ask him how he felt.”
Brady is scheduled to meet with the media Friday afternoon following practice.
There has been plenty of speculation and concern among Patriots fans, and naturally so, given the timing.
As for the Jaguars, they aren’t taking anything for granted as far as Brady is concerned.
“I’m sure he could probably throw lefthanded if he has a problem with his right hand and throw just as well,” Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone said Thursday.