FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady participated in practice Thursday on a limited basis because of a left shoulder injury.
The New England Patriots quarterback had missed Wednesday’s session, but the team said his absence was not injury-related.
Brady was listed on Thursday’s report as having participated on a limited basis with the shoulder injury. He was one of 17 Patriots listed as participating on a limited basis, meaning a player took part in fewer than 100 percent of his normal repetitions.
He was injured during the fourth quarter of New England’s win over Miami last Saturday.
Against Buffalo on Sunday, Brady has a chance for the fourth 5,000-yard passing season, needing just 103. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints set the NFL record of 5,087 Monday night, three more than the mark set by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins in 1984.
The Patriots (12-3) have clinched a first-round bye and can lock up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or tie.
Steelers’ Roethlisberger intends to play in finale
PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t want his sprained left ankle to keep him out of Pittsburgh’s regular-season finale Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Roethlisberger, who sat out the Steelers’ win last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, fully participated in practice again Thursday. He said the ankle, sprained Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh’s last meeting with the Browns, was “a little sore.”
Neck again keeps Broncos’ Dawkins out of practice
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins missed practice again because of a neck injury that has left him questionable for Denver’s pivotal regular-season finale against Kansas City.
Dawkins watched Thursday’s practice from the sideline. The 16-year veteran has been sidelined for all but one quarter in the past two weeks, when the Broncos gave up 40 and 41 points in losses to Buffalo and New England.
Around the league
• SAINTS: New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas has been fined $12,500 for a uniform violation and a touchdown celebration in which he placed a bow on a football and gave it to a fan. The fine for the celebration is $7,500. Thomas also violated NFL policies by wearing Christmas-themed green and red tape on his black and gold Saints uniform, costing him $5,000 more.
• BROWNS: Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy still can’t practice three weeks after sustaining a concussion. McCoy hasn’t been cleared by team doctors and likely will miss his third straight game Sunday.
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