Tom Brady misses Patriots practice due to illness

Tom Brady said he was fighting a cold prior to the Patriots' playoff win over the Colts. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Tom Brady did not participate in the Patriots practice Wednesday due to an illness, according to the team.

An ESPNBoston.com report cites a source saying that Brady is "good and will be ready for Sunday," when the Patriots play the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game in Denver.

Brady said last week he was suffering from a cold, but he participated in every practice and Saturday's divisional playoff win over the Colts.

The Patriots also listed Brady with a right shoulder injury, a condition that he's played through most of the season.

Backup Ryan Mallett took snaps as first-team quarterback and ran scout-team plays in Brady's absence.

BURKE: Top 40 prospects in NFL Draft

From ESPN.com:

Mallett, who said he found out Brady would be absent early Wednesday, would not discuss why the two-time Super Bowl MVP wasn't present. "We'll keep that between Tom and I," Belichick said.

"You'd have to ask Coach," he said of Brady's absence. "I'm just doing what I'm told, doing my job."

In a lighthearted moment, [Coach Bill] Belichick, asked when the last time Brady surprised him was, replied, "This morning."

What was it that surprised him?