… Another gorgeous, early-autumn-like day in Foxborough for Tuesday's Patriots practice. Once again, it was in full pads on the training camp practice fields.

… Biggest news was the notable returning players: DL Albert Haynesworth and RB Danny Woodhead. LB Gary Guyton, who didn't take part Monday, was back at it today as well. Haynesworth was around for the Saturday walkthrough, but not yesterday, presumably to tend to the off-the-field legal matter that needed his attention Monday.

… Woodhead, meantime, seems to have bounced back quickly after coming up jelly-legged from a vicious hit to the head against Tampa Bay. Saw him in the locker room immediately after the game and he looked good, considering what had just happened to him. Today, he was back out running around in full pads with the rest of his teammates.

… The list of absentees continues to be a long one (18 in all), with a noteworthy addition today: rookie OL Nate Solder. Cornerback Leigh Bodden, meanwhile, has now missed his third straight practice for reasons unclear at the moment. The rest of the missing on Tuesday were as follows: rookie RBs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, safety Josh Barrett, RB Kevin Faulk, rookie DB Malcolm Williams, RB Eric Kettani, rookie LB Jeff Tarpinian, LBs Dane Fletcher and Brandon Spikes, rookie OL Marcus Cannon, OL Ryan Wendell, DL Brandon Deaderick, rookie TE Lee Smith, and DLs Jermaine Cunningham, Ron Brace, and Mike Wright.

… Early on in practice, the tight ends went to the far left corner of the practice fields (where the o-line has its "trench warfare" equipment set up) to work on blocking protection with the big bodies from Dante Scarnecchia's group.

… While the Patriots continue to make strides on both sides of the football and on special teams, they look in midseason form in at least one department: locker room interviews. They were a scant few today. Some significant players turned down all media requests, and the few others who made appearances either weren't in a talkative mood or weren't newsworthy subjects on this particular Tuesday.