The New England Patriots picked two spots on their 53-man squad on Thursday when they placed defender Tashawn Bower (neck / concussion) and rookie rugby team Josh Uche (foot) on the injured reserve.
The Patriots will likely have to fill those places by line-up players from their training group with various injuries and advance on their offense.
Patriots’ free safety Devin McCourty (shoulder) returned to practice on Thursday after missing the Wednesday session.
Corner Beth / special team Justin Bethel was recently sidelined with a neck injury on Thursday. Bethel spoke to the media on Thursday, indicating that the injury was not too serious.
Here is the Patriots’ full injury report of their final practice in 2020:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
C David Andrews (calf)
OLB Tashawn Bower (neck)
LB Terez Hall (single)
LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder)
G Shaq Mason (calf)
LB Josh Uche (foot)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (shoulder)
CB Justin Bethel (neck)
DT Adam Butler (shoulder)
OLB Shilique Calhoun (knee)
LS Joe Cardona (single)
DT Byron Cowart (back)
OT Jermaine Eluemunor (single)
F Nick Folk (behind)
DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder)
RB Damien Harris (single)
OT Justin Herron (single)
CB JC Jackson (knee)
WR Donte Moncrief (thigh)
S Devin McCourty (shoulder)
WR Matthew Slater (knee)
Quarterback Cam Newton has won the Ron Hobson Media Good Guy Award this year, which is given to the player who is most helpful, available and accommodating to reporters. Newton had a difficult season, but was always friendly and achievable, winning or losing.
Patriots safety Adrian Phillips feels good despite having played the most regular seasons in his NFL career.
“I definitely have some pains and bruises, but I can maneuver certain ways to make sure I don’t take most of the power,” Phillips said. ‘It’s crazy that I have the most screenshots and the most production this year, and my body feels right. I have to finish strong, hopefully I will finish strong with this last game, but overall I feel pretty good. ”
Left-winger Joe Thuney on the possibility that Sunday’s game against the Jets could be his last in a Patriots uniform:
‘I mostly just focus on Sunday and the Jets and everything. But yes, try it all in. You never know. ‘
Thuney will be an unlimited free agent after the season.
Cam Newton celebrates new year with something called a manifesting party.
“So you call your closest friends, loved ones, and it’s like Skype and you have to set your intentions on what you expect,” Newton said. Sage yourself. Sage your surroundings. Crystals if necessary. And continue these euphoric kind of conversations with you and loved ones, and people you know best. It puts people in that position to also be your accountability partner as the new year approaches. So it can be a New Year’s resolution, it can be what your expectations are, it’s letting you go from a vision board. Yeah, so these are my plans for tonight and I’m looking forward to it. ”
Thumbnail via Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports images