Will Sunday bring extended playing time for Steady Teddy Karras?

David Andrews — one of the teams’ iron men to this stage of the season — was one of four players missing from the start of Patriots’ practice on Thursday, according to those present.


Andrews, who played every snap through the first eight games of the year, was removed from the late stages of Sunday’s blowout win over the Broncos. There was no injury announced, and Andrews was spotted in the locker room after the game, a sign the move was likely a way for him to get a breather when the contest was no longer in doubt.

If there is an issue with Andrews' health, the backup center is Teddy Karras, who also serves as the primary backup along the rest of the interior offensive line. However, with guards Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney having played every snap through the first nine games and Andrews going wire-to-wire for the first eight, Karras hasn’t gotten much of a chance to play this year. That could change come Sunday against Oakland.

Karras is one of the more popular guys on the roster. The second-year offensive lineman out of Illinois has played in 25 regular-season games over the course of his career, with one start.

In addition to Andrews, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon (ankle) and receivers Chris Hogan (shoulder) and Matthew Slater (hamstring) were all not seen. Slater is back in New England, dealing with his injury.