Patriots Blog: Mike Wright Concussion
FOXBORO (CBS) - Defensive lineman Mike Wright was held out of Monday's practice. He sustained a concussion in Sunday's game against the Colts. It was initially announced as a neck injury.
If Wright does not play Thursday and defensive lineman Myron Pryor (back) also remains out, the Patriots would be without their top two interior pass rushers in sub packages. Veteran Gerard Warren is a top candidate to step in, while rookie free agent Kyle Love also would move up the depth chart.
Wright leads the Patriots in sacks with 5-and-a-half.
THANKSGIVING HISTORY
Thursday's game against the Lions marks the fourth time that the Patriots will be playing on Thanksgiving.
Here are the past results:
Nov. 24, 1984 -- Dallas 20, Patriots 17
Nov. 23, 2000 -- Lions 34, Patriots 9
Nov. 28, 2002 -- Patriots 20, Lions 12
As for Bill Belichick, this will mark the 7th time he's coached on the holiday. He's done so as a head coach and as an assistant. Belichick's overall record is 3 and 3.
This will be a quick turnaround for the Patriots. All day Monday, that was the theme. Guys were not talking about celebrating the win, they were moving on to the Lions and Thanksgiving Day.
"It would be nice to put the feet up and enjoy last night's game and what we did, but we're on to Detroit," Belichick said of Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions.
"It's a short week here, there's a lot to do, we have to cram six days into three. I think the players came in with a good attitude today and really tried to get a lot done. Obviously we have a lot to do and we'll try to keep grinding it out here the next couple of days. It was a big start for us today."
The big thing about this is the Pats are clearly at a disadvantage when it comes to this game. The Lions play this game at home every year. They are used to it and have a routine. The Pats only play in it so often, so this becomes a hiccup in their schedule.
"It's a game that you knew every year was your game, that you were going to be playing at home and you were going to be playing at noon," Belichick said.
"Whatever the weekly routine and getting ready for it -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday -- it's the same thing you did last year. It's something you were comfortable with and looking forward to -- didn't have to travel and all those kind of things. I think it's a great game for Detroit, the Lions, the city and for football. It's a traditional game. I think it adds a lot to the holiday."
Belichick also shared his thoughts on Lions coach Jim Schwartz, whom he hired while serving as Cleveland Browns head coach, calling him as smart a coach/personnel assistant as he's had on a staff.
"I've had a lot of people work for me and he's right up there at the top of the list in terms of things that he could do, and what a positive impression he made at a relatively young point of his career," Belichick said.
