Tom Brady skips practice with calf injury

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Tom Brady is nursing a calf injury that forced him to miss practice for New England's opener Sunday at Miami.

The Patriots announced the reason for the quarterback's absence Thursday in their daily participation and injury report. He was the only player added to the team's first report of the week that was issued Wednesday. Tight end Rob Gronkowski and defensive linemen Michael Buchanan, Chris Jones and Sealver Siliga practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday.

''Practice is practice,'' safety Devin McCourty said. ''I've been here now five years. It's not the first time he hasn't been out there at practice. So practice still goes on even without Tom.''

Coach Bill Belichick did not meet with reporters Thursday.

The Patriots planned to practice Friday before leaving for Miami.

Brady appeared in good spirits at his weekly meeting with reporters Wednesday morning before that day's practice.

Rookie Jimmy Garoppolo, the Patriots' second-round draft choice, is the only other quarterback on the 53-man roster. He beat out Ryan Mallett, Brady's backup the past three seasons, for the No. 2 job, and the Patriots traded Mallett to the Houston Texans last Sunday for a sixth-round or seventh-round draft choice in 2016.

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