Report: Tom Brady to Play in Preseason Opener Against Saints

by John Beattie on Thu, Aug 9, 2012 at 12:14PM

Tom Brady isn't taking his time this year.

According to Greg Bedard, Brady will play on Thursday night when the Pats line up against the Saints at Gillette Stadium. Brady didn't play last summer in the team's preseason opener.

Bedard also notes that Brady played 17 snaps against the Saints in the 2010 opener.

According to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rodak, "based on attendance and participation in recent practices," the following Patriots are not expected to play on Thursday night:

Offense
FB Spencer Larsen
WR Deion Branch
TE Daniel Fells (Active/PUP)
TE Visanthe Shiancoe
TE Jake Ballard (Active/PUP)
T Sebastian Vollmer (Active/PUP)
T Matt Kopa
T Kyle Hix
T Kyle Hill
T Markus Zusevics (Active/NFI)
G Logan Mankins (Active/PUP)
G Brian Waters (did not report)
G Dustin Waldron

Defense
DT Jonathan Fanene
DT Ron Brace
DT Gerard Warren
DT Myron Pryor (Active/PUP)
LB Brandon Spikes
LB Tracy White
CB Alfonzo Dennard