… Summer weather continues to hang on for dear life around these parts. The Patriots practiced this afternoon under intense sunshine, blue skies, with warm temps in the upper 70s. For the first time in a couple of weeks, the team wore full pads for today's session, held down on the single practice field behind Gillette Stadium.
… A mix of good and bad news on the injury front, starting with the latter. Left guard Logan Mankins was not on the field for reasons unknown. Joining him on the absentee list were three others who also didn't attend the last practice – tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back), tight end Aaron Hernandez (knee), and Mike Wright (concussion). Mankins appeared to finish the Bills game Sunday, but was not seen in the post-game locker room at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Hernandez told reporters earlier that he felt good and was hoping to be available this week.
.. The good news, though, involved safety Patrick Chung, who returned to practice last Friday, but did not suit up Sunday due to his reported thumb surgery. Also back on the field today was defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth (back), who missed two days last week, as well as the Buffalo game.
… Some roster moves made official today: the Patriots released defensive lineman Landon Cohen and replaced him with veteran Gerard Warren, who was cut earlier this season. Warren was back in the 98 jersey that he wore during training camp.
… Meanwhile, practice squad linebacker A.J. Edds continues his on-again-off-again relationship with New England. It's apparently off again, as the second-year linebacker reportedly signed on to Indianapolis' active roster.
… The running game was a central theme of discussion in the locker room earlier today. That, and one of the funniest quotes we've had from a player in a long time, will appear later this afternoon on patriots.com.
UPDATE … 5:05 p.m.
Mankins was listed as having an illness on the official injury/practice participation report.
