Carlton Davis III is back in the mix for the Patriots, and that’s the biggest development out of New England’s Tuesday walkthrough as the team moved closer to Thursday night’s trip to Soldier Field.
Davis, who had missed six practices and two straight games with a neck injury, returned to work after being listed among the non-participants on the previous estimate. He was upgraded to limited participation, giving the Patriots a healthier look in the secondary on a short week.
The bigger problem remains up front. Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, right guard Ben Brown and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer all stayed out of practice, even after the Patriots placed wide receiver Romeo Doubs on injured reserve.
Here’s the second injury report ahead of the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff against the Bears:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Patriots
G Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring)
G Ben Brown (knee)
DT Joshua Farmer (personal)
Bears
RB Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe)
LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring)
LB Jack Sanborn (concussion)
When asked if Vera-Tucker and Brown could be ready in time for Thursday, head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t leave much room for optimism.
“Probably not.”
Both interior linemen had already been ruled out last weekend against the New York Jets, and the Patriots’ line was stretched again. Still, the team’s 35-year-old captain has at least a shot to turn around after leaving his own game.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Patriots
WR A.J.
Brown (ankle)
OT Morgan Moses (foot)
CB Carlton Davis III (neck)
CB Karon Prunty (hamstring)
CB Channing Canada (hamstring)
Bears
G Jonah Jackson (hip, quadricep)
Moses has now shown up as a limited participant in back-to-back reports after exiting nine offensive snaps into the AFC East matchup at Gillette Stadium with an ankle injury. He has also been managing a foot issue in recent weeks.
Rookie Caleb Lomu, the No. 28 overall pick, stepped in during the second quarter of the Patriots’ 26-19 win. October pickup Matt Pryor and August trade addition Walter Rouse later joined him in an offensive line that didn’t allow a sack or a penalty.
Davis’ return comes after his neck issue first knocked him down before the Steelers game in September. He played all 59 defensive snaps the following week against the Bills, then missed consecutive weeks of practice while two rookie corners were also sidelined by hamstring injuries.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Patriots
QB Drake Maye (right shoulder)
RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle)
OT Will Campbell (knee)
OT Marcus Bryant (ankle - IR return)
LB Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder)
LB Christian Elliss (chest)
S Kevin Byard III (chest)
S Craig Woodson (shoulder)
K Andy Borregales (personal)
Bears
LB Keyshaun Elliott (quadricep)
CB Tyrique Stevenson Sr. (hip)
The Patriots listed nine players as full participants after Tuesday’s walkthrough. With the exception of a swing tackle taken in the seventh round of the 2025 draft class, all of them are currently on the 53-man roster.
Bryant is among that group after New England opened his 21-day activation window. He had been designated to return from injured reserve at the cutdown deadline in August, and he has now moved out of the limited group.
In Other News...
Patriots Rookie Suddenly Has A Veteran Starter Under Real Pressure
The Patriots have spent the first six games of the 2026 season patching together an offensive line that has been hit by injuries to Mike Onwenu, Ben Brown, Morgan Moses and Alijah Vera-Tucker, and the latest solution has come from an unexpected source. Rookie Caleb Lomu has been pressed into duty at right tackle and, despite limited experience at the spot, has looked far more ready than most first-year linemen are when they are thrown into the fire.
Lomus play has put real pressure on the veteran starter ahead of him on the depth chart, especially with Moses status still unclear. If the injury keeps Moses sidelined much longer, the Patriots may have to make a decision they probably hoped to avoid this early in the year, because Lomu has already shown enough to make the conversation more than theoretical. [Read more 🡒]
Rex Ryan's A.J. Brown Roast Gave Patriots Fans A New Debate
A sloppy afternoon for A.J. Brown became one of the more talked-about side stories around the Patriots' narrow home win over the Jets, with the receiver back in action after an ankle injury but still searching for rhythm. New England's 4-2 start was the bigger takeaway, yet Brown's return carried its own share of drama as he made multiple costly mistakes in a game that stayed tight into the closing stages.
Rex Ryan added fuel afterward with a pointed ESPN critique that had Patriots fans buzzing nearly as much as the final score. The segment turned Brown's rough outing into a wider talking point about how much pressure comes with trying to reestablish yourself quickly after an injury, and why even one bad night can linger when it comes in a game that close. [Read more 🡒]
A.J. Brown's Return Leaves Patriots Facing One Immediate Concern
A.J. Brown was back on the field for the Patriots in their Week 6 win over the Jets after sitting out more than a month, and the overall result offered a useful reminder of how much this offense can still function with other pieces carrying the load. New England got enough from its passing game to win, with multiple players chipping in for receiving yards and touchdowns even as Brown worked his way back into the mix.
Still, the return did not look especially clean on Browns end, which is where the immediate concern comes in. He was heavily involved but did not turn that volume into much production, a sign there is still some rust to knock off as the Patriots turn quickly to a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Bears. [Read more 🡒]