Patriots-Bills injury report: Looking like Patriots will be without Branch

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FOXBORO -- The Bills might have a shot against the Patriots if they can run the football and keep it out of Tom Brady's hands. If it becomes a shootout, Tyrod Taylor and his receiving corps would seemingly have very little chance to keep up. 

Keeping it on the ground might be an especially good idea this week for the Bills given that the Patriots could be without defensive tackle Alan Branch for the second consecutive game. The 350-pound defensive tackle injured his knee in Week 14 against the Dolphins and did not play last weekend against the Steelers. 

LeSean McCoy is coming off of one of his worst games of the season in a win versus the Dolphins in Week 15, running for an average of 2.5 yards per carry, but the Patriots are allowing more yards per attempt than any other team in the NFL. With Branch looking like he'll be out of the mix, it would come as no surprise if McCoy was fed a steady diet of touches Sunday.

Thursday's practice participation/injury report for Sunday's Patriots-Bills game:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
DL Alan Branch (knee)
RB Rex Burkhead (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
RB Brandon Bolden (groin)
WR Chris Hogan (shoulder)
DB Brandon King (hamstring)
DL Eric Lee (ankle) WR Matthew Slater (hamstring)
LB Kyle Van Noy (calf)
OT LaAdrian Waddle (ankle)
RB James White (ankle)

BUFFALO BILLS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
WR Andre Holmes (neck)
DT Kyle Williams (groin)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
LB Lorenzo Alexander (rest)
WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee)
TE Charles Clay (knee)
CB E.J. Gaines (knee)
G Richie Incognito (rest)
RB LeSean McCoy (knee)
G John Miller (ankle)
TE Nick O'Leary (back)

FULL PARTICIPATION
QB Nathan Peterman (concussion)
WR Deonte Thompson (back)

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