Patriots’ Jonathan Freeny’s X-Rays Come Back Negative, Didn’t Break Hand

Freeny has played in all 13 games for the Patriots and started in seven in Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins’ absence.

New England Patriots linebacker Jonathan Freeny suffered a hand injury Sunday night against the Houston Texans.

Most importantly, though, with losses by the Bengals and Broncos on Sunday, the Patriots regained first place in the AFC and again own the inside track to homefield advantage.

Blount left the game in the second quarter with a hip injury and did not return.

– Tom Brady went over the 4,000-yard mark for the fifth straight season, and the eighth time in his career. Additionally, James White’s only carry of the game was a two-yard touchdown score.

But Blount’s the kind of workhorse back that’s hard to replace, and the Patriots will have to adjust their plan unless he’s able to return. Bolden may have been a core special teamer this time past year when Blount, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen were ahead of him on the depth chart, but now is his time to prove his worth as a regular ball carrier.