Missing from action were two key starters: left guard Logan Mankins (left ankle, hip, calf) and wide receiver Wes Welker (ankle).
Linebacker Tracy White (left foot) and defensive end Trevor Scott (hamstring) were back in uniform. In White's case, it was his first appearance in pads since October 5.
Oddly, running back Stevan Ridley was wearing a white jersey without his number 22 on either the front or back.
Four players were awarded the black jerseys as last week's practice players of the week: running back Shane Vereen, backup QB Ryan Mallett, safety Derrick Martin, and defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick.
Cornerback Aqib Talib, wearing jersey number 31, put his Patriots uniform on for the first time. He was seen following stretching taking part in a drill to simulate stripping the quarterback of the football and, in another, dropping back into pass coverage and picking off a pass. He is scheduled to give his first local media interview tomorrow.
Other transactions to catch up on, if you haven't heard: New England released linebacker Jeff Tarpinian the other day, only to bring him back as a practice squad member. Guard Mitch Petrus was also signed as insurance for both Mankins and Dan Connolly, who left the Bills game with a back injury. Rookie linebacker Jerrell Harris was let go to make room for Tarpinian.
Player interviews in the locker room aren't happening today until the 4 o'clock hour, when the injury report is also set to be released.
UPDATE… 3:55 pm
Welker entertained Indianapolis media questions during a conference call earlier today. He had this to say about former teammate Darius Butler, who's now playing cornerback for the Colts and just won AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. "He's incredibly athletic. I don't know if y'all have seen him jump but he's a very, very athletic player. He's obviously had a couple interceptions this year and been playing some really good ball and has really come along. He's definitely very, very talented."
Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians has ruled out two players for this week's game in Foxborough: starting left corner Vontae Davis (knee) and rookie TE Coby Fleener (shoulder). He told New England reporters via conference call that Butler will start in Davis' stead.
UPDATE… 5:15
Connolly also missed practice Wednesday, while 13 other Patriots were limited in their activity: DL Ron Brace (back), S Patrick Chung (hamstring/shoulder), S Steve Gregory (hip), tight ends Rob Gronkowski (hip) and Aaron Hernandez (right ankle), rookie LB Dont'a Hightower (left hamstring), WR Brandon Lloyd (knee), OL Nick McDonald (right shoulder), Scott, linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee), RT Sebastian Vollmer (back), White, and DB Malcolm Williams (thigh).
Linebacker/co-captain Jerod Mayo (elbow), defensive tackle Kyle Love (knee), and WR Julian Edelman (left hand) took part in full.
Out in Indy, the Colts listed just four players beside Davis and Fleener, all of them starters: RB Donald Brown (knee), OT Winston Justice (knee), OLB Robert Mathis (back) and C Samson Satele (back). All four took part fully in practice.
