Patriots Notebook: Dont'a Hightower (illness) misses Thursday practice

ATLANTA --Linebacker Dont'a Hightower (illness) was missing from practice on Thursday for the Patriots.

“We’ll evaluate him tomorrow,” Bill Belichick told pool reporter Jenny Vrentas.



Hightower was present for media availability on Wednesday -- I was one of a handful of reporters who spoke with him -- and seemed a little under the weather, but not so much that he'd be limited come Sunday. As we've said before, with the Patriots run of good health this season, it's been rare to see someone new land on the injury list. But we'll keep an eye on things going forward.

One player who was limited on Wednesday -- defensive tackle Malcom Brown -- was back at practice on Thursday. Belichick told Vrentas he expects Brown to practice Friday and be available moving forward.

“If something happens tomorrow, that will be a different story, but I’d say he looks all right,” Belichick said.

Here's the complete injury report for both teams:



It was a walkthrough for the Patriots on Thursday, per Vrentas. There were no jerseys, and most players were in sneakers, sweats or workout clothes. (Tom Brady was in cleats.) Belichick said the team has already gotten in five practices since the AFC championship game, and will have another full-speed session on Friday.

“We got a lot out of the walkthrough (Thursday) and were able to run more plays at a slower tempo,” Belichick said. “So that’s the advantage. Practicing (at full speed) you get better tempo, you just get fewer plays.”

Vrentas offered the following, from a practice perspective, on the 80-minute session that took place indoors at the Georgia Tech facility:

The starting offense and defense worked at opposite ends of the field against the scout team, focusing on third-down, red-zone and goal-line situations, in addition to some review. The team was relaxed but also focused, with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels rattling off play calls and Brady calling out adjustments to his receivers’ splits and routes. The Patriots also reviewed all the kicking situations—field goal, kickoff and punt—in between the periods when the offense and defense were working. The specialists did not kick in the walk-through; they kicked yesterday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Super Bowl LIII will be played, and will do so Friday as well.

As for the Rams, they went for 70 minutes on the Falcons outdoor fields in nearby Flowery Branch. Los Angeles, which held a walkthrough on Wednesday, picked up the tempo on Thursday, but were also in jerseys, sweats and helmets. Coach Sean McVay told pool reporter Charean Willams it was a spirited practice.

“It was a good way to start out competing,” McVay said. “We want to come out fast, and that’s going to be important in this game, and that’s what today represented.”

In terms of injury updates, McVay pointed to Friday as the real test for kicker Greg Zuerlein, who has had a left foot issue since the NFC title game.

“The plan all along has been for (Zuerlein to kick Friday),” McVay said. “We’re right on track. He’ll kick (Friday).

“I talked to him (Thursday). He’s feeling good. That’s kind of been the plan all along, so we’re right on track where we want to be.”