The New England Patriots ramped up work on the Buffalo Bills without a defensive captain.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry III did not participate in Thursday’s practice. The veteran starter, who leads the team in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits, had been available for the previous session in a limited capacity while managing a knee injury.
Running back Terrell Jennings also remained sidelined for the active roster as the AFC East rematch nears.
Here’s the second injury report heading into
Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Patriots
- RB Terrell Jennings (concussion)
- LB Harold Landry III (knee)
Bills
- QB Mitchell Trubisky (illness)
Jennings has resided in the NFL’s concussion protocol since the final game before the bye week. The sophomore running back and kickoff returner headed from the blue medical tent to the locker room in the first half against the New York Giants. He was downgraded to out for the rest of what became a 33-15 Monday night win. As for Landry, the March arrival off the edges played a season-low 31 defensive snaps as the calendar flipped to December. Coming out of the break, No. 2 has been spotted during one practice in Foxborough.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- OT Vederian Lowe (abdomen)
- LB Robert Spillane (foot)
Bills
- WR Joshua Palmer (ankle)
- OT Spencer Brown (shoulder)
- DE Joey Bosa (wrist, hamstring)
- LB Terrel Bernard (elbow)
- CB Christian Benford (toe)
Two Patriots practiced in a partial capacity on Thursday. Lowe, fresh off his first start of the year at left tackle, continues to work through an abdomen issue. And across the line of scrimmage, Spillane was added to the injury report because of a foot issue. The off-ball captain at linebacker leads the defense in tackles and ranks third in snaps played. Meanwhile, in Orchard Park, a 46-game starter at cornerback joined the limited. Benford was spotted by reporters in a walking boot following Bills practice. He has intercepted passes in consecutive weeks, returning the latest for a 63-yard touchdown.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- G Jared Wilson (ankle)
- DT Christian Barmore (not injury related — other)
- DT Khyiris Tonga (chest)
- S Brenden Schooler (ankle)
Bills
- TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
- TE Dawson Knox (not injury related — personal)
- S Cole Bishop (calf)
Three recent Patriots inactives were listed as full participants for the second practice in a row. A rookie starter at left guard and an All-Pro captain on special teams had been ruled out for Week 13 due to ankle injuries. A chest injury also saw Tonga go from questionable to scratched. It marked the first game missed this campaign by the versatile nose tackle.
