As the New England Patriots headed back to the practice fields, so did two rookies.
Outside linebacker Elijah Ponder and safety Craig Woodson returned for Thursday’s work on the Cleveland Browns. Due to knee and ankle ailments, respectively, both had been sidelined in Foxborough to open the week.
The Cal Poly Mustang and California Golden Bear joined a group of seven limited participants that also included veteran defensive back Kyle Dugger.
Here’s the second injury report as Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff
at Gillette Stadium nears.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Patriots
- No players listed
Browns
- C Ethan Pocic (illness)
- DT Adin Huntington (concussion)
- S Rayshawn Jenkins (wrist, back)
While the Patriots practiced with a full 53-man roster on Thursday, the Browns found themselves down three. Pocic on the offensive line and Jenkins in the defensive backfield were new non-participants, while Huntington remained out while in the NFL’s concussion protocol. But a starting wide receiver returned for Cleveland after missing the initial session of the week with a knee injury.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- WR Stefon Diggs (chest)
- OT Morgan Moses (not injury related — other)
- DT Khyiris Tonga (knee)
- LB Harold Landry III (ankle)
- LB Elijah Ponder (knee)
- S Craig Woodson (ankle)
- S Kyle Dugger (knee)
Browns
- WR Jerry Jeudy (knee)
- TE David Njoku (knee)
- OT Jack Conklin (not injury related — rest)
- CB Tyson Campbell (quad)
While Ponder’s role has brought 80 snaps on special teams this season for the Patriots, Woodson’s role has brought a team-high 412 snaps on defense. The No. 106 overall pick has served as a starting safety since the September opener, tallying 34 tackles, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery. And for back-to-back Sundays this October, Dugger has accompanied him in New England’s starting secondary. The longest tenure left there has since landed on the injury report due to a knee issue.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- DT Christian Barmore (not injury related — other)
- CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring)
- CB Charles Woods (knee)
- S Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring)
Browns
- TE Blake Whiteheart (shoulder)
- G Joel Bitonio (not injury related — rest)
- DT Maliek Collins (not injury related — rest)
- DT Mason Graham (knee)
- DT Mike Hall Jr. (knee)
- DT Shelby Harris (knee)
- CB Denzel Ward (hip)
- S Grant Delpit (toe)
With Barmore upgraded from the partial group, four Patriots were available in full on Thursday. Gonzalez’ hamstring injury has continued to be monitored since the reigning All-Pro cornerback returned after three games missed. But Hawkins’ own hamstring injury has now resulted in two games missed. The starting safety went from questionable to inactive 90 minutes prior to kickoff last weekend at Nissan Stadium along with Woods, an August waiver claim at corner.
