Stephen A. Smith thinks Tom Brady will be at his best in the second week of the season. There is a time and a place for it.
Brady is expected to play in the third and final preseason game against the Colts.
When asked if Brady will play, the coach said "everyone who is healthy will play."
Brady, who returned this week from an 11-day absence to tend to personal issues, is healthy and practiced in full Thursday, as well as Monday and Tuesday, with a veteran day on Wednesday. He looked strong and focused after taking his number of reps.
It will be the first time Brady has played this preseason, the first time he's lined up with a wide receiver, and the first time he's behind a new offensive line.
Brady is important for game continuity, according to the coach. There are some new guys on the line. There are some new people at receiver. We need to see them in a game with certain situations and just the flow of it, other than practicing together. We just need to see it.
Brady's conditioning is not a concern, nor is he concerned that Brady didn't have enough time to get to know the other players.
He did not play in the first two games after missing 11 days. He's okay with everything. We are aware of his condition and it is fine. He is with the guys. He is throwing the ball. It was built up before we left.
Everybody is practicing at the same time. We didn't have a full slate there, but they got to see a lot of things from the side and talked a lot. The chemistry is good.
Goedeke will start at left guard, even though the position is not decided, according to Bowles.
The wide receiver positions after Evans, Jones, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are up for grabs.
If Brady wasn't absolutely necessary, he wouldn't have taken the mid-training- camp break he did.
If it wasn't important, I wouldn't have done it. A lot of the players and the coaches have private things that they bring to us. More than the others, it came to light. We will not back away from that. Nobody is given breaks just to take breaks.
Brady has played in at least one preseason game every year since he was drafted. He didn't take part in the preseason in 2008 because of foot and ankle injuries, but he did take part in the regular season.
The coaching staff has been encouraged by Godwin's progress, but he is not expected to play.
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