FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots activated rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday following a two-month stint on injured reserve recovering from a right thumb injury.
Brissett was added to New England’s 53-man roster. To make room, the Patriots released rookie defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton.
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAME
GIANTS (10-4) at EAGLES (5-9), 8:30 p.m.
Outlook: Philly is out of playoff contention and the Giants are all but assured of getting in no matter what happens here. A win would clinch a spot for the Giants, but so would losses this week by the Lions, Packers, Bucs or Falcons – any of them. Eli Manning has more career losses (5) and interceptions (26) against the Eagles than any opponent. Philly is a dangerous bad-record team and an upset here would not surprise even a little. But New York’s defense shapes this pick. The Giants have led the entire NFL in scoring defense since Week 7.
Television: NBC/NFL
Prediction: Giants 20-17
– Greg Cote, Miami Herald
Brissett had to play with Tom Brady suspended and with usual backup Jimmy Garoppolo suffering a shoulder injury in Week 2.
Brissett helped the Patriots finish off their victory over Miami, and started in a 27-0 victory over Houston the following week. But he struggled to move the offense in the team’s 16-0 loss to Buffalo Oct. 2.
For the season, Brissett has thrown for 400 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Hamilton played in two games with one start and had four tackles.
JETS: Quarterback Bryce Petty was a full participant at practice and is on track to start New York’s game at New England on Saturday.
Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Petty was cleared after the quarterback suffered a bruised chest against Miami last Saturday night.
X-rays and a CT scan on Petty’s chest were negative despite his being forced out of the game after being sandwiched by Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh while completing a pass in the fourth quarter.
“I was concerned, but fortunately, everything showed that there wasn’t anything structurally wrong,” offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. “It’s just him dealing with it and he’s handled it well. He’s gotten reps both days looks like he’s throwing the ball OK.”
Gailey, who has coached football at various levels since 1974, wasn’t quite sure where the hit ranked among ones he has seen over the years.
“It’s got to be up there,” Gailey said. “I don’t know if I’m going to say top 10 or top 20, but it’s up there. That was a heck of a shot he took.”
DOLPHINS: Center Mike Pouncey says the hip injury that ended his season isn’t career threatening, and he’ll be ready for the team’s offseason program.
But with a rueful smile, Pouncey acknowledged mixed emotions regarding the possibility the Dolphins will make the playoffs without him.
“That would be a nightmare, but obviously I’m rooting for that to happen,” he said Wednesday. “I’ve been wanting to play in the playoffs for a long, long time. I’m ready for it. Let’s go. I’ll be there cheering.”
VIKINGS: Running back Adrian Peterson did not practice on Wednesday and his outlook for the game against Green Bay on Saturday is in question.
Peterson said he had “a couple of nicks” that he was getting treatment for and recovering after playing his first game in three months on Sunday.
Peterson played 12 snaps in his return from surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, but the Vikings lost to the Colts, 34-6.
FALCONS: Wide receiver Julio Jones moved closer to his return from a toe injury by joining full-speed drills in Wednesday’s practice.
Jones has missed two straight games with a sprained toe. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said Jones ran full speed but only in limited parts of the session.
PANTHERS: Luke Kuechly said he isn’t going to let a second concussion end his football career.
The three-time All-Pro middle linebacker said Wednesday he has no plans to retire from playing football after his second concussion in as many years. The 25-year-old has missed seven games in the past two years with concussions, including the past four this season.
Kuechly said that while he appreciates the overwhelming concern friends around the league and family have for him, “I’m holding off that retirement word for probably a little ways down the road. … Whenever my opportunity comes back, I will be back out there.”
Unlike teammate Cam Newton, who expressed some fear earlier this season after his concussion, Kuechly defiantly said he’s not concerned about the long-term effects of concussions, which have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in football players.
“I’m not worried about (CTE) and I think there is a lot to be learned from it,” Kuechly said.
Kuechly was cleared by independent physicians to play Monday against Washington, but Coach Ron Rivera erred on the side of caution and held him out for at least another week.
CARDINALS: Larry Fitzgerald had his weekly meeting with the media Wednesday and did absolutely nothing to shed light on his plans beyond the final two games of this NFL season.
“I don’t know what I’m doing next year,” he responded to the third or fourth question on the subject. “I don’t know how much more definitive I can be with that.”
The issue gathered momentum based on a rather ambiguous comment he made earlier this week on Westwood One radio.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m contemplating it (retirement) right now,” Fitzgerald said then. “But I’m uncertain what I’m going to do moving forward. But I still love the game, I love the competition. I love being around the guys and competing for a championship. That’s a lot of fun to me. That’s kind of where I’m at right now. I’m really just focused on these last two games.”
PACKERS: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a full practice participant for the first time since being slowed by the first of two leg injuries.
Rodgers injured his left hamstring during a Nov. 28 win over the Eagles and hurt his right calf on the third play of a Dec. 11 win over Seattle.
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