FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Richard Seymour wore a brace on his injured left elbow at practice for the second day in a row on Thursday and his status for the New England Patriots Monday night game at Minnesota remained uncertain.
The game shaped up as a marquee matchup between Seymour, the Patriots’ four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, and the Vikings (4-2) offensive line, featuring three-time Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson and 6-foot-8, 343-pound left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
“When you look at their line, they have a lot of talent,” Seymour said.
“You can just look at the contracts that those guys got over there. It’s probably one of the best left sides in football. They do a good job, no question about that.”
Seymour was hurt in last week’s 28-6 win over Buffalo when safety Rodney Harrison crashed into his elbow as Seymour had his hand planted on the ground. Seymour, who said the play looked “pretty gruesome” on film, practiced with a brace on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Obviously, anything you wear, it restricts you,” said Seymour, who was listed as “questionable” on Thursday’s injury report, which means he has a 50-50 chance of playing. “But at the same time it protects you. I just have to listen to the trainers because it isn’t something I ever had before. I’m feeling my way through it.”
Seymour said he underwent an MRI this week but he did not reveal the results.
“We’ll take it day by day,” he said. “As the week has moved on, it’s definitely not as stiff as it was … (But) there is a little swelling. We’ll know more as the week progresses.”
If Seymour can’t play, the Patriots (5-1) likely will turn to Jarvis Green, who has a team-high 4.5 sacks. Second-year pro Mike Wright, a former undrafted free agent, also would see more action.
“Jarvis has always done a good job for us,” Seymour said. “Whoever fills in – Jarvis, Mike Wright, Marquise Hill – we’re very comfortable with them.”
The Patriots’ run defense struggled last season when Seymour missed four games with a knee injury. However, New England won two playoff games without him following the 2004 season.
AP-ES-10-26-06 1748EDT
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