When Patriots quarterback Tom Brady didn't practice Wednesday of last week, it was up to backup Brian Hoyer to keep the first-unit offense on track leading into the AFC Championship Game.

Hoyer's work at practice was recognized by the coaching staff, as he was named one of the team's practice players of the week. The practice player of the week honor is awarded to the players who the coaching staff feels best prepared the club in the days leading up to a victory, and the players don black jerseys at the next week's practices.

Hoyer was joined by offensive lineman Donald Thomas, practice squad offensive tackle Matt Kopa, practice squad linebacker Mike Rivera and practice squad safety Ross Ventrone as this week's picks. It's the fourth time he's been recognized this season.

The updated tabulations of practice players of the week:

DE Markell Carter -- 8
CB Antwaun Molden -- 5
OT Matt Kopa -- 5
OL Donald Thomas -- 5
QB Brian Hoyer -- 4
TE Garrett Mills -- 4
LB Mike Rivera -- 4
DL Alex Silvestro -- 4
WR/CB/KR/PR Julian Edelman -- 3
WR Tiquan Underwood -- 3
S Ross Ventrone -- 3
RB Shane Vereen -- 3
C/G Ryan Wendell -- 3
C/G Nick McDonald -- 2
CB Phillip Adams -- 1
DL Ron Brace -- 1
DE/LB Jermaine Cunningham -- 1
TE Dorin Dickerson -- 1
LB A.J. Edds -- 1
LB Dane Fletcher -- 1
DB Nate Jones -- 1
LB Niko Koutouvides -- 1
DL Kyle Love -- 1
QB Ryan Mallett -- 1
P Zoltan Mesko -- 1
DB Sterling Moore -- 1
WR/S Matthew Slater -- 1
LB Jeff Tarpinian -- 1
CB Josh Victorian -- 1
OT Thomas Welch -- 1
CB Malcolm Williams -- 1

For the week-by-week breakdown of practice players of the week, click on the "read full entry." Week 19
QB Brian Hoyer
OL Matt Kopa
LB Mike Rivera
OL Donald Thomas
S Ross Ventrone

Week 18
DE Markell Carter
WR/CB/KR/PR Julian Edelman
LB Dane Fletcher
DB Nate Jones
WR/S Matthew Slater

Week 17
DE Markell Carter
CB Antwaun Molden
C/G Nick McDonald
LB Mike Rivera
WR Tiquan Underwood

Week 16
DL Ron Brace
OL Nick McDonald
DB Sterling Moore
WR Tiquan Underwood
OL Ryan Wendell

Week 15
TE Dorin Dickerson
WR/DB/PR/KR Julian Edelman
LB Mike Rivera
OL Donald Thomas

Week 14
G Donald Thomas
DE Markell Carter
P Zoltan Mesko
DE Alex Silvestro
S Ross Ventrone

Week 13
DE Alex Silvestro
DE Markell Carter
QB Brian Hoyer
G Donald Thomas
TE Garrett Mills
WR Tiquan Underwood

Week 12
DE Markell Carter
RB Shane Vereen
CB Malcolm Williams

Week 11
LB/DE Jermaine Cunningham
QB Brian Hoyer
LB Mike Rivera

Week 10
OL Donald Thomas
CB Phillip Adams
LB Niko Koutouvides
RB Shane Vereen
TE Garrett Mills
DE Alex Silvestro
DE Markell Carter

Week 6
DE Markell Carter
OL Matt Kopa
CB Antwaun Molden
DE Alex Silvestro
OL Thomas Welch
C/G Ryan Wendell

Week 5
DE Markell Carter
QB Ryan Mallett
TE Garrett Mills
CB Antwaun Molden
OL Ryan Wendell

Week 4
DL Kyle Love
OT Matt Kopa
CB Antwaun Molden
RB Shane Vereen
CB Josh Victorian

Week 2
QB Brian Hoyer
OT Matt Kopa
TE Garrett Mills
CB Antwan Molden
LB Jeff Tarpinian

Week 1
WR Julian Edelman
LB A.J. Edds
OT Matt Kopa
S Ross Ventrone