As the Patriots prepare to face the Broncos, 20 New England players are dealing with injuries.
Special teams captain Matthew Slater missed practice with a shin injury. (The Patriots inadvertently declared him to be out in the report submitted to the league. He’s not out. Yet.)
No other Patriots player missed practice on Wednesday, but plenty were limited: receiver Danny Amendola (knee), tight end Scott Chandler (knee), linebacker Jamie Collins (back), safety Nate Ebner (hand), receiver Julian Edelman (foot), linebacker Darius Fleming (back, shin), linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hand), tight end Rob Gronkowski (knee, back), linebacker Dont’a Hightower (knee), guard Tre’ Jackson (knee), defensive end Chandler Jones (abdomen, toe), defensive end Rob Ninkovich (shin), center Bryan Stork (ankle), tackle Sebastian Vollmer (ankle), and tackle LaAdrian Waddle (shoulder).
Fully participating in practice were quarterback Tom Brady (ankle), guard Josh Kline (shoulder), receiver Brandon LaFell (foot), and safety Devin McCourty (ankle).
So that’s 20 total names on the injury report. Which will make it hard for the Broncos to know who’s playing and who isn’t. Which isn’t a bad strategy with a Super Bowl berth on the line.