FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots got a lot healthier Monday.
Wide receiver Taylor Price returned to the practice field Monday after missing the last six sessions of camp with an undisclosed injury, and cornerback Ras-I Dowling took the field after being held out of 13 consecutive practices with a hamstring injury.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman, wide receiver Brandon Tate and safety James Sanders practiced in pads for the first time in more than a week. Edelman, Tate and Sanders participated in Saturday's walkthrough, but Monday's attendance was a bigger step in their recovery process.
Defensive lineman Shaun Ellis also participated in his first padded practice after being activated from the physically unable to perform list in time for Saturday's walkthrough.
The Patriots were still missing 20 players, though. Running back Stevan Ridley, cornerback Leigh Bodden, running back Shane Vereen, safety Josh Barrett, cornerback Malcolm Williams, running back Eric Kettani, linebacker Jeff Tarpinian, linebacker Dane Fletcher, linebacker Brandon Spikes, offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, offensive lineman Ryan Wendell, defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick, tight end Lee Smith, defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, defensive lineman Ron Brace and defensive lineman Mike Wright were all absent.
Running back Danny Woodhead, linebacker Gary Guyton and running back Kevin Faulk all ran with the team at the start of practice before leaving to work out on their own. This is the first time Guyton has missed a practice this season.
Fletcher was wearing a hard cast covering his right thumb inside the locker room. The cast extended to his forearm.
