Tom Brady Not Worried About Shoulder Injury: 'I'll Be There Sunday'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady was back on the practice field on Wednesday, and isn't at all concerned about a shoulder injury that kept him off the field on Tuesday.
A day after sitting out practice with a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder (his first absence of the year), the Patriots quarterback hit the field with his teammates as they prepare for Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets.
Though Brady was present for the stretching portion of the workout, he was officially listed as did not practice on the injury report. The same was true for tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Brady said everyone is dealing with some "bumps and bruises" at this point, and made it sound like the injury is no big deal.
"I'm good. I'm not worried about it," Brady told reporters on Wednesday. "I'll be there Sunday."
Brady has been sacked 16 times and hit 33 times total over the first five games of the season. He took just 15 sacks in 12 games last season. But he still sang the praises of his offensive line on Wednesday, saying that he has to do a better job of getting the football out much quicker.
"I think those guys have done a great job, I really do. They fight their butts off on every play," Brady said of his line. "I have so much confidence in the offensive line and what we do every week …. From my standpoint, I have to find the guy who is open and get rid of the ball. That's what I'm going to do."
Brady first suffered the injury in New England's Week 4 loss to Carolina on October 1 and re-aggravated in last Thursday's win in Tampa Bay, when he was sacked three times by the Buccaneers.
The Patriots will practice twice more this week before heading to New Jersey. T
Asked about Brady's toughness at his morning press conference, New England head coach Bill Belichick said his quarterback is a rare breed.
"Tom's as physically and mentally tough as any player I've coached. No doubt about that," said Belichick.
Cornerback Eric Rowe and offensive lineman Nate Solder were the only two Patriots missing from the start of Wednesday's practice.