PATRIOTS’ LIST OF KEY INJURIES PILING UP
New England: The “next man up” philosophy of the Patriots is getting seriously tested.
On defense, star LB Jerod Mayo went on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday, joining star DT Vince Wilfork on the list. On Sunday, their best defensive back, Aqib Talib, could be sidelined after hurting his hip. And just when starting DT Tommy Kelly returns from a knee injury is unknown. Then there’s the offense. WR Danny Amendola and G Dan Connolly suffered concussions last Sunday. TE Rob Gronkowski hasn’t played all season.
Gronkowski was the only one of those seven to practice on Wednesday, and he was limited.
But the Patriots lead the AFC East by two games.
“A lot of teams face challenges. It’s just really how you deal with them,” Tom Brady said Wednesday. “We’ve lost some guys, dealt with some issues, like every other team. We’re handling them OK. We’re 5-1. It’s a decent start.”
Minnesota: Josh Freeman will be the starting quarterback for the Vikings on Monday night against the New York Giants.
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier made the announcement after practice on Wednesday. Frazier also said that Christian Ponder will be the backup, not Matt Cassel, assuming Freeman makes it through the week without problems. Detroit: Ndamukong Suh has been fined by the NFL. Again.
The Lions defensive tackle was docked $31,500 by the league for a hit on Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.
Dallas: Jay Ratliff’s mysterious and rapid decline with the Cowboys has ended with his release.
The Cowboys unloaded their apparently disgruntled defensive tackle on Wednesday, saying he failed a physical after spending the first six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list. He was eligible to be activated this week.
Ratliff missed the last six games of 2012 with a groin injury and had sports hernia surgery after the season. Chicago: WR Brandon Marshall said he has been fined $10,500 by the NFL for wearing green football shoes in the Oct. 10 game against the New York Giants.
Marshall had said before last Thursday’s game he was wearing the shoes to attract attention to Mental Health Awareness Week. Marshall has been treated for a personality disorder in the past. Tampa Bay: Carl Nicks, one of three members of the Buccaneers diagnosed with MRSA, has had surgery to get rid of the staph infection.
The 28-year-old guard had surgery Tuesday night and coach Greg Schiano said that Nicks is doing well. The twotime All-Pro was diagnosed as having MRSA in a blister of the left side of his foot during training camp in August.
Buffalo: QB E.J. Manuel is expected to miss another four to six weeks now that he’s begun rehabbing his sprained right knee.
Coach Doug Marrone was able to provide a more definitive timetable on Manuel’s recovery Wednesday after consulting with team doctors. Manuel began working out on his own Tuesday for the first time since being hurt in a loss to Cleveland on Oct. 3.
NY Giants: New York signed veteran RB Peyton Hillis. Hillis, who fills a void in the backfield, is a six-year veteran with a 1,000-yard season on his resume.