Wes Welker returned to the Patriots' practice Monday after sitting out Friday’s game for personal reasons.
No indication was given whether the slot receiver suffered an injury. Coach Bill Belichick deemed Welker as being “day-to-day,” but was unwilling to divulge any more information. Welker was similarly evasive.
“A lot of it was personal issues, so I’ll leave it at that and let coach Belichick take care of anything else,” Welker said.
Whatever those issues are, Welker said he has no concerns about being ready for the season opener Sept. 9 in Tennessee.
“I feel good,” he said. “I look forward to being out there with the team and I’m looking forward to 2012.”
Giant plan: Belichick remained mum when asked if Tom Brady and the other starters will play in Wednesday’s preseason finale against the Giants" data-canon="New York Jets" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> after doing so last year.
“We haven’t made any decisions on our playing time yet,” Belichick said.
The coach also remained silent when asked if G Brian Waters, who is yet to report for work, has shared his plans for the upcoming season.
Spread the blame: The offensive line has come under fire the last few weeks for their failure to create adequate protection for the quarterback, but Brady says that the criticism isn’t fair. He believes that he and his cohorts often hold the ball too long and deserve much of the blame for those plays -- including the strip-sack Marcus Cannon came under fire for allowing Friday night.
“When the offensive line is expecting me to get the ball out quick, and I hold on to the ball, and I get sacked, then people may blame the offensive line, but really it’s the quarterback’s fault,” Brady told WEEI
Roll call: LB Brandon Spikes, RB Shane Vereen (foot), TE Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring), OL Nick McDonald (arm) and Matt Kopa (ankle), S Will Allen, and LB Tracy White were not present at Monday’s practice.
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNE.
