Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer hasn't played since Week 12, but Bill Belichick said on Monday that the Patriots are taking his status "day-by-day." There's a reason they didn't put him on injured reserve.
"If a player isn't placed on injured reserve, then there's an expectation that they'll have a chance to be able to play," said Belichick. "Any player that's not on injured reserve, you think there's a possibility that those players can play. If they were out and couldn't play, then they would be on injured reserve."
Rookies Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon have both seen time at tackle in Vollmer's absence. When Vollmer and Matt Light were both out against the Dolphins in Week 16, Logan Mankins got some time at tackle before suffering a knee injury.