The Patriots added wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the injury report Thursday. Boutte was limited with a hamstring injury after not being on the report on Wednesday.
It is unclear whether Boutte’s injury is an aggravation of the hamstring injury that kept him out of two games in November or a new injury.
Boutte missed Week 17 with a concussion but returned last week.
He has 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games this season.
The Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve last week. Kyle Williams will be in line for a bigger role if Boutte can’t play.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) was downgraded to a non-participant after being limited on Wednesday.
Offensive tackle Morgan Moses (illness) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (illness) were back at practice and full participants on Thursday. Tight end Hunter Henry (rest), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) and linebacker Jack Gibbens (elbow) also were full participants after limited work on Wednesday.
Center Garrett Bradbury (illness), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (illness), offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) remained out for a second consecutive day.
Cornerback Alex Austin (wrist), linebacker Harold Landry III (knee) and offensive lineman Jared Wilson (concussion) again were limited.
The Dolphins pared their list of General Manager candidates down to four on Wednesday and they’re moving forward with the next round of interviews.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander and Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan are meeting with the team on Thursday. Both interviews will take place in person.
Sullivan had a virtual interview with the team earlier this week while this will be Alexander’s first meeting with the team.
49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams and the Dolphins’ interim GM Champ Kelly are the other candidates still in the running in Miami.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said he is rested and ready after sitting out last week’s game against the Broncos.
Herbert fractured his left hand in Week 13 and had played through it until being a healthy scratch on Sunday when the Chargers had only seeding on the line.
“I’d say definitely not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful,” Herbert said, via Kris Rhim of ESPN. “It limited kind of the swelling and just getting back to making sure that you have got full strength, being able to hold onto a football.”
For the first time since his injury, Herbert took snaps under center in a Wednesday practice. He had avoided under-center snaps until Saturdays and game days to protect the hand.
“I would say that I was able to do most everything out there,” Herbert said of Wednesday’s practice. “It’s just making sure I can grip on the ball and have two hands on it in the pocket. . . . So I think that’s been good.”
Herbert made his second Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in the regular season. What he has yet to do is win a playoff game. The Chargers lost his first playoff start in the 2022 season when the Jaguars rallied from a 27-point deficit to win 31-30, and he threw four interceptions in a 32-12 loss to the Texans last season.
Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh are famously close, with their relationship put on display when their teams have competed against one another — most notably in Super Bowl XLVII.
So it’s no surprise that in his Wednesday press conference, as the Chargers get ready to play the Patriots, Jim Harbaugh was asked about his brother getting fired from the Ravens this week.
“John Harbaugh is the best coach I know, the best coach I’ve ever seen,” Jim Harbaugh said, via Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com. “Whatever team he goes to is going to be formidable, and I just hope it’s in the NFC.”
Jim Harbaugh also isn’t holding out hope he’ll be able to add his brother to the Chargers’ staff in 2026.
“He’ll be a head coach next year,” Jim Harbaugh said, via Omar Ruiz of NFL Media.
It stands to reason, however, that Jim Harbaugh could get a little advice from his brother on Los Angeles’ wild card weekend opponent. While the Chargers didn’t take on the Patriots during the regular season this year, the Ravens lost to the Patriots in Week 16.
The Chargers played without running back Omarion Hampton in Week 18 and they’ll kick off their practice week without him as well.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that Hampton will sit out practice due to an ankle injury. Hampton suffered a fractured ankle early in the season and missed seven games before returning in December.
Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, and Hassan Haskins are the other Chargers backs.
Edge rusher Bud Dupree, wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and safety Kendall Williamson will also miss practice. Left tackle Jemaree Salyer, safety Elijah Molden, center Bradley Bozeman, and cornerback Donte Jackson are all set to practice. Tight end Tucker Fisk is also set to practice and open the window for his return from injured reserve.
The team’s injury report will bring further word on their participation levels.
