It might not be time to panic yet, but Tom Brady’s injured throwing hand certainly appears to be of legitimate concern.
The New England Patriots starting quarterback reportedly injured his right thumb Wednesday when he jammed his thumb while making a handoff in practice, and the Patriots have been typically quiet on his prognosis.
Brady offered only “we’ll see” when asked about the injury affecting his play in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He wore gloves during his press conference Friday and is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
But NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that while the thumb injury is painful, the five-time Super Bowl champion was “zinging it” in practice.
Two tidbits from #Patriots QB Tom Brady’s thumb injury: 1. It was gushing blood when it happened. 2. He was “zinging it pretty good today,” source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2018
The NFL insider delivered more information on NFL Network, noting that Brady is expected to play, but the injury is “not nothing.”
From Up to the Minute Live: The latest on #Patriots QB Tom Brady, his bloody thumb, and how he looked. pic.twitter.com/AYxy6KXUAf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2018
NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran noted Friday that there was some chatter surrounding Brady’s injury, but people in the know are being quiet. Curran mentioned he is hearing that Brady is not taking snaps from center, only from the shotgun in an attempt to not aggravate the injury further.
The Jaguars fully expect Brady to be himself Sunday at Gillette Stadium, but there’s no doubt the ferocious defense will want to test the quarterback’s accuracy early and often.