FOXBORO, Mass. — One of the New England Patriots’ twin-tower tight ends was missing from minicamp Wednesday.
Scott Chandler was absent from practice after getting banged up during Tuesday’s minicamp session. Chandler didn’t finish the practice after appearing to injure his ribs.
Most of the Patriots defense’s front seven remains on the mend as the team wraps up the offseason workout program. Five defensive starters didn’t practice Wednesday. Wide receivers Matthew Slater and Brandon LaFell; tight end A.J. Derby; linebackers Jerod Mayo, Dane Fletcher, Dont’a Hightower, Chris White and Jamie Collins; offensive linemen Ryan Wendell and Sebastian Vollmer, and defensive linemen Chris Jones, Chandler Jones and Sealver Siliga were absent.
Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Chandler Jones and Siliga all are projected to be starters on defense this season. LaFell, Wendell and Vollmer were offensive starters in 2014, and Slater is the Patriots’ special teams captain.
Newcomers have dominated practice reps at linebacker and defensive line with so many veterans absent. The Patriots will have nearly six weeks to get healthy before training camp.
Thumbnail photo via Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports Images
