As the Patriots finish up preparations for Sunday night's trip to Detroit to take on the Lions, the team's health continues to be an area of focus.
Safety Patrick Chung and defensive end Trey Flowers both missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to concussions suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Jaguars.
But it was a new injury situation on Thursday that's causing the biggest stir late in the week.
The Boston Globe notes that tight end Rob Gronkowski was added to the Patriots injury report on Thursday, limited in practice with an ankle ailment. The Globe uses film study to back up the idea that patience may be paying off with first-year Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty.
The Boston Herald writes that new Patriots receiver Josh Gordon gets the backing of his former Browns teammates as he works to settle into his new home in Foxborough. The Herald also notes the Gronkowski injury. The Herald says that Cyrus Jones, recently re-signed from the Ravens practice squad, could be asked to play some safety in his second tour of duty in Foxborough.
The Providence Journal writes that Jones is ready for his second chance with New England. The ProJo declares that the pass-happy Lions pose a challenge for the Patriots. The ProJo notes the Patriots injury situation as well as the signing of Corey Coleman to the practice squad.
WEEI.com looks at what might be realistic expectations for Gordon against the Lions. WEEI.com has NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson saying “this is the last chapter of this relationship between Josh Gordon and the sport of football.” WEEI.com passes along Jimmy Garoppolo saying that he and Tom Brady are good friends and still share texts. WEEI.com has Jones discussing his return to New England. WEEI.com also writes about the Gronkowski injury.
NBC Sports Boston notes that Patriots safety Devin McCourty seems to be on board with recent rumors that New England might have interest in free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick. NBC Sports Boston continues to speculate as to why Bill Belichick was reluctant to talk about the Gordon trade. NBC Sports Boston notes that New England is once again the No. 2 most valuable franchise in the NFL. NBC Sports Boston notes that it was Kaepernick’s lawyer that tried to connect his client to the Patriots.
NFL.com has word of the Gronk injury.
NESN.com also passes along Garoppolo talking about his relationship with Brady.
Yahoo! Sports offers up one reason either the Raiders or Patriots should sign Kaepernick.
TMZ.com is where Kaepernick’s celebrity lawyer got the rumor mill rolling.
