Patriots Blog: Hernandez, Haynesworth Return To Practice
FOXBORO (CBS) - I rarely blog about Patriots practice, but there was some news on Thursday.
Back on the field was tight end Aaron Hernandez, and defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth and Mike Wright. All players, in full pads, looked ready as they took part in the media session of practice.
Hernandez was wearing a brace on his knee but when we spoke to him in the locker room, he was upbeat and joking with reporters.
"I'm just trying to get healthy, taking it day-by-day," he said.
Pats-Jets Notes: Throwback Weekend
Missing from Thursday's practice session were receiver Julian Edelman, running back Danny Woodhead, offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer and linebacker Jerod Mayo.
Guyton Ready To Fill Mayo's Shoes
Mayo is out for this weekend's game against the New York Jets, so his role of getting everybody lined up and running the defense will fall to someone else.
This is where Gary Guyton steps in.
He will get the "green dot" and assume the duties of relaying the defensive plays.
"I've done it before," Guyton said of filling Mayo's shoes. "So I'll just do the best I can, come in and do my job."
But Guyton and defensive coach Pepper Johnson stressed, this is not a one-man job. It will be a collective effort and communication will surely be a key amongst everyone on that defense.
Read: Levan Reid's Patriots Blog
"Losing such a leader like Mayo, [in] my past experience, normally guys put a little extra on their plate, put a little extra on their shoulders," said Johnson. "Everybody has to take a piece of Mayo out on the field and try to perform and take some of his responsibilities – not just try to put it into one person, but everybody just go out there and play for Jerod until we get him back onto the field."
"Everybody has a job to do," nose tackle Vince Wilfork said on Thursday. "I think when someone goes down, everybody else has to step up and play their role. I think this is going to be a prime example for us. Whatever happens, whoever we have on Sunday out there playing, they have to be able to come in and step up because we're all depending on them. "
Tune in to the Patriots-Jets game Sunday at 4:15 pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Tune in to Patriots Gameday at 11:30am on WBZ-TV and The Sports Hub's pregame coverage, beginning at 1:00 pm. After the game tune in to the Postgame show on 98.5, and to Patriots Fifth Quarter on MY TV38.
