ESPN

Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from New England Patriots followers are answered as part of a weekly mailbag. This week's mailbag has been posted and includes some of the following topics:

1. How the Patriots might recover from losing defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

2. Did the Patriots make a mistake by not having Rob Gronkowski on the physically unable to perform list?

3. Cornerback Aqib Talib and the possibility of a contract extension.

4. The Broncos' early-season success and how it all matches up against the Patriots.

5. Rookie receiver Josh Boyce and his progress.

ATLANTA -- Welcome to the Georgia Dome, where the New England Patriots visit the Atlanta Falcons (8:30 p.m. ET):

Indoor football. Weather conditions aren’t a factor as this marks the Patriots’ first regular-season game inside a pure dome since Thanksgiving of 2010 (vs. Lions, on Thanksgiving). The Georgia Dome has a permanent seating capacity of 71,250 and is one of the loudest venues in the NFL. Since 2008, the Falcons are 34-7 at home, which is the best record in the NFC.

A feel for inside the dome. Plans to build the Georgia Dome, for $210 million, were first introduced in 1989. The Georgia Dome, which opened in 1992, has hosted two Super Bowls (XXVIII, XXXIV), gymnastics and basketball events for the 1996 Olympic Games, and most recently the NCAA Men’s Final Four for the third time. For football, the mostly red seats and Falcon at midfield give the dome a unique look. Banners hang above from the team’s six division championships, as well as some of former Falcon greats, including Deion Sanders, Jessie Tuggle and Steve Bartkowski.

Four more inactive Patriots players: The Patriots have already ruled tight end Rob Gronkowski and receivers Danny Amendola and Matthew Slater out for the game. That means four more players must be declared inactive, with those decisions turned in to the NFL 90 minutes before kickoff.

Extra points: The Falcons have outscored opponents 31-0 in the first quarter this season. … Under head coach Mike Smith, the Falcons are 22-3 after a loss. … This marks the Patriots’ second of five scheduled nationally televised games this season. … The 34 total points allowed by the Patriots are the fewest for the team through three games since 1979.

Coleman gets the call: Veteran referee Walt Coleman has been assigned tonight’s game. Patriots fans remember Coleman from the “Tuck Rule” game.

Television broadcast: Tonight’s game will be on NBC, with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya on the call.

It’s complicated. It often is.

Those are the primary thoughts when it comes to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and his murky status.

Let’s try to sort through some of the dynamics in play:

Role of the “circle.” As ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported in the wake of a Boston Herald report, this “goes beyond the Patriots' decision and to Gronkowski's circle of family, friends and advisers.” Gronkowski has undergone five surgeries since last November, so one can empathize with those close to the tight end who might believe a return Sunday night is too soon. We know from Gronkowski’s three-plus seasons with the Patriots, which started with Gronkowski celebrating on the stage at the NFL draft with his family and friends and continued with the most recent book he wrote with his father and brothers, that Gronkowski’s family and inner "circle” plays a big role in his life. It seems fair to say the inner "circle” has more influence with Gronkowski than the standard player.

Dynamic of trust with medical decisions. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the viewpoint of Gronkowski’s inner "circle" has been affected by the last time Gronkowski was cleared to play by the team’s medical staff, in the 2012 AFC divisional round of the playoffs. That’s when Gronkowski re-broke the forearm on his seventh play. When something like that happens, even if it’s considered a freak accident and/or bad luck, one could understand how a trust might be affected.

Patriots' viewpoint. Would the team pressure Gronkowski to return to the field? Surely every team wants to see a return on its investment and the Patriots are obviously a better team with Gronkowski on the field. But they also have a long-term interest, which team president Jonathan Kraft pointed out in his weekly interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Sept. 22. “At the end of the day, we care about the players’ long-term health and in the case of guys like Danny [Amendola] and Rob, who are signed to this team for a long time, it’s not about this week and next week. It’s about the next 4-5 years and we collectively want to make the right decision.”

Player makes the final call. The unanswered question, from this viewpoint, is what does Gronkowski think? It’s one thing if his inner "circle” doesn’t want him to play and he agrees. It’s another thing if he feels ready, but those close to him are urging him to hold off. Knowing how Gronkowski feels would add important context to this situation. If he doesn’t want to play, it would be surprising to me if he’s on the field Sunday night.

Before the New England Patriots play a game, we'll attempt to predict the team's inactive players.

Our best guess on the list for Sunday night's road game against the Atlanta Falcons:

Danny Amendola: Receiver is listed as questionable on the injury report (groin) and looked better on the practice field this week, but the hunch here is that he might need some more time.

Steve Beauharnais: Rookie linebacker has been a healthy scratch the last two games.

Rob Gronkowski: Tight end has been making positive strides, but the educated guess here is that he'd like an increased level of comfort before taking the field.

Chris Jones: Rookie defensive tackle is a developmental prospect who has yet to dress for a game since being claimed on waivers from the Buccaneers.

Matthew Slater: Special-teams captain has already been declared out with a wrist injury.

Sebastian Vollmer: Starting right tackle missed practices Wednesday and Thursday with a foot injury, and while he returned for Friday's light practice, the feeling here is that he's more likely to play Oct. 6 in Cincinnati.

Leon Washington: Veteran running back was inactive last week with a thigh injury and remained limited in practice all week.

When the NFL released its schedule this offseason, the first instinct for many -- this reporter included -- was to scan the 16-game run down and circle contests of note.

The first two weeks of the season offered the usual intrigue associated with division games, while Week 3 was another look at Darrelle Revis, though this time in a white jersey and pewter pants for the Bucs.

But things really got interesting in Week 4, with the Patriots traveling to Atlanta for a Sunday night showdown against the Falcons, a team many were already prognosticating as a Super Bowl favorite. The high-powered Falcons' offense added hard-charging running back Steven Jackson in free agency, providing a needed boost to complement one of the most diverse and lethal passing attacks in the league.

Things haven’t started quite as planned for the Falcons, who have dropped a pair of road games that sandwiched a Week 2 win against the Rams.

But it’s early.

And that’s why Sunday night is one of the most anticipated games of the weekend and could prove to be one of the more exciting games for the Patriots this regular season. The challenge is a great one for the Patriots, looking to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2007.

Here’s what we’ll be watching for come Sunday night.

1. Gronk/Amendola watch. Truth be told, until tight end Rob Gronkowski makes his regular-season return, his status will be a primary storyline entering each game. And yet, this Sunday looks possible, as he once again took part in each practice this week (on a limited basis) and is more than 14 weeks removed from offseason back surgery. The Patriots' offense has averaged just 19.7 points per game thus far without Gronkowski (and two of those games have been without Danny Amendola), reaffirming his importance. Amendola, meanwhile, could be a longer shot to play, but he too has taken part in practice each day this week on a limited basis. If one or both of these players were to return to the lineup, it’d present a massive boost for the Patriots' offense. ESPN's John Clayton is reporting it's not likely either will play Sunday night. [UPDATE: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET -- Gronkowski and Amendola did not travel with the team to Atlanta and won't play, per Adam Schefter.]

2. Slowing Jones. The Atlanta offense has an abundance of talent, but no player presents more of a challenge than wide receiver Julio Jones, who leads the NFL in both catches and receiving yards. Fellow wideout Roddy White has been limited by an ankle injury thus far, but defenses still haven’t been able to find a way to slow down Jones. Bill Belichick was effusive in his praise for Jones during the week, and one area to be focused on is how the Patriots defend him as a vertical threat. He has the length and speed to stretch a secondary down the field, with Matt Ryan among the more accurate downfield throwers to accompany Jones’ range. This could be a week where Devin McCourty is used to shade to the side of the field that Jones aligns to.

3. Running backs –- on both sides of the ball. The Patriots, as we know, used three running backs in featured roles during Week 3, but weren’t the only team to go with a by-committee approach. The Falcons, who were without Jackson in Week 3 (and likely will be again in Week 4), relied upon both Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling to combine for nearly 200 yards of total offense. How will each running back rotation play out this weekend? Might the Patriots ride the hottest hand and again feature Brandon Bolden early? Or will Stevan Ridley reassume his top back status? For the Falcons, count on Rodgers to be the starter and early down back, with Snelling providing straight-line running and very good pass catching in a reserve role.

4. Fast start. The Falcons have been successful to open games, outscoring their opponents 31-0 in the first quarter of games this season. That puts the pressure on the Patriots' offense to find its rhythm early on in the game so as not to have to play catch up with the Falcons. Complicating the matter will be the boisterous crowd in Atlanta, aided by a dome that captures and echoes sound. Communication, particularly non-verbal signaling, will be critical to counter the noise factor.

5. Young Falcons cornerbacks. Like the Patriots' receiving corps on the other side of the ball, the Falcons have a youthful set of cornerbacks. Atlanta used its top two picks in this year’s draft on Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, each of whom is already playing a prominent role. Veteran Asante Samuel, a familiar face in New England, is the other top cornerback for Atlanta, but it’ll be a heavy dose of rookie-on-rookie showdowns come Sunday night. Kenbrell Thompkins got on track last Sunday, scoring the first two touchdowns of his career. We’ll see whether Tom Brady will try to pick on the talented Falcons cornerbacks and whether his own young receiving corps can deliver.

ATLANTA -- There are $100 million reasons why Matt Ryan should be talked about among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. One thing the Atlanta Falcons quarterback doesn’t have that his Sunday-night counterpart possesses is a Super Bowl ring.

Ryan's showdown with New England Patriots star Tom Brady is sure to be a hot topic throughout Week 4. He already lost one such head-to-head matchup, when Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints got the better of Ryan and the Falcons in the season opener (23-17).

So how will Ryan fare against the Pats? He’ll need help from all phases, something he didn’t receive in last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.

ESPN.com Falcons team reporter Vaughn McClure and Patriots reporter Mike Reiss break it down:

McClure: The Falcons were touted as a Super Bowl contender -- and possibly a favorite -- going into the season. But now, at 1-2, they find themselves in almost a must-win situation at home. How will the Patriots respond to the hostile environment they’ll enter Sunday night at the Georgia Dome?

Reiss: With 13 rookies on the 53-man roster -- including receivers Aaron Dobson (second round) and Kenbrell Thompkins (undrafted), who are playing key roles -- there is an element of unknown for the Patriots when projecting how the team will respond. Some of these players simply haven’t experienced this environment and prime-time stage. It’s rare for a Patriots team to be relying on such a large number of rookies for significant contributions, and that is one of the interesting storylines from a New England perspective this week. Other storylines are if this might be tight end Rob Gronkowski's season debut, if receiver Danny Amendola will also return after missing two games with a groin injury and if the defense -- which has been solid against lesser competition (Jets, Bills, Buccaneers) -- can limit an explosive passing game that is easily the best the unit has seen to this point in the season. Give us a feel for how things are going for the Falcons on offense.

McClure: Not too well, at the moment. Head coach Mike Smith’s biggest complaint is how inefficient his team has been in the red zone. During the Week 3 loss to the Dolphins, the Falcons were 2-of-5 in red zone opportunities. For the season, they are 6-of-12 (50 percent) in terms of touchdowns in the red zone, but offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wants that number to be a bit higher. Having bruising running back Steven Jackson in the lineup would no doubt help in goal-line situations, but Jackson will miss Sunday’s game while nursing a hamstring injury. Receiver Roddy White is also a solid red zone target, but White is not 100 percent healthy coming off a high-ankle sprain. Ryan still has Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez as primary scoring weapons. How do you think the Patriots will keep up with the speedy receiver and ageless tight end?

Reiss: I think it starts with how they decide to match up against the Falcons’ “11 personnel” (one back, one tight end), because that looks like the most explosive package -- receivers Jones, White and Harry Douglas, with Gonzalez at tight end and either Jacquizz Rodgers or Jason Snelling at running back. Last Sunday against the Buccaneers’ “11 personnel,” the Patriots stayed in their base defense but played with three cornerbacks in the secondary -- their way of staying sturdy against the run but adding a coverage element to the secondary. I’d be surprised if we see that this week because the Falcons are much more potent in the passing game. So I could envision the Patriots turning to a coverage-heavy dime defense (six defensive backs), specifically with Jones and Gonzalez in mind, with the thought that a lighter box might be enough to limit the running game. For the Falcons, how are things shaping up on defense?

McClure: The defense has had its issues. Take the Miami game, for example. The Falcons held a 23-20 lead with just less than five minutes remaining in regulation. The defense needed to close, needed to put pressure on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, needed to lock down the receivers. Instead, the Falcons played soft coverage after the Dolphins reached midfield and couldn’t disrupt Tannehill’s rhythm. In the end, Tannehill engineered a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with his game-winning touchdown pass to Dion Sims. Not playing tight coverage and not wrapping up on tackles cost the Falcons in that game, and it could cost them the rest of the season if they don’t find a way to correct those problems immediately. They could use their defensive leader, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who was placed on injured reserve (foot) with a designation to return in Week 11. One other aspect noticeable in Miami was how the Dolphins tight ends won their one-on-one matchups against the Falcons on that final drive. That being said, will Atlanta have to contend with one of the best tight ends in the league, Gronkowski?

Reiss: We might not know the answer for sure until 90 minutes before kickoff, but things have been pointing in that direction. The one area the Patriots could use Gronkowski most, at least initially, is in the red zone. One season after ranking first in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage (which we acknowledge isn't a foolproof stat), the Patriots rank last (4-of-13). It’s going to be hard to win a game like this settling for field goals. Speaking of which, let’s not overlook special teams. The Patriots are getting good contributions in that third phase of the game, with a 53-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski a highlight in Sunday’s victory over the Buccaneers. How about the Falcons?

McClure: Yet another area in which the Falcons could use much improvement. Against the Dolphins, returner Douglas fumbled a punt he admitted he shouldn’t have fielded in the first place. It translated into a Dolphins touchdown three plays later. The usually reliable Matt Bryant missed a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. And the Falcons had three penalties on special teams: two holds and an illegal block above the waist. Through three games, the Falcons are ranked 26th in punt return average and 30th in kickoff return average, although they’ve returned just one kickoff. Those special-teams issues are enough to cause special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong to blow a gasket. Speaking of that, is Brady still yelling at his receivers?

Reiss: Could you hear him down there in Atlanta? That was probably the most talked about storyline after New England's 13-10 win over the Jets on Sept. 12, whether Brady’s on-field frustrations were making things tougher on the young receivers than they needed to be. But it was mostly yelling at himself this past Sunday. He was upset with an end zone interception he said he shouldn’t have thrown. And he missed some open receivers, too. So while Brady’s stats were better last week, his performance wasn’t up to his own high standard, and it was actually more about him than the young pass-catchers, who turned in their best performance of the season. What is Ryan saying about this matchup?

McClure: Ryan said plenty about the Patriots when he addressed the media in the locker room Wednesday. He said he expects to see a lot of man-to-man coverage and complimented the Patriots for being very sound with their technique. He believes the front seven does a great job of creating pressure in both the run game and against the pass. Of course, Ryan gave much credit to Brady for being one of the top quarterbacks in the league for such a long time. In fact, Ryan joked that he hoped to be around as long as Brady. And Ryan singled out Vince Wilfork for not only being a disruptive force up front, but for being a 325-pound guy who plays a lot of snaps. So what’s the word from Bill Belichick?

Reiss: Belichick complimented Ryan, saying among other things that Ryan has very few bad plays. He shared his belief that consistency is the mark of any great player and Ryan is “pretty consistent -- every play, every game, every series.” And, according to Brady, Belichick said the following to players this week: “If you love football, then Sunday night at 8:30 in Atlanta will be the place to be.” Hard to imagine many would disagree about that. This is going to be fun.

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One of the things that will be charted on a weekly basis is the positional groupings utilized by the New England Patriots' offense, as they reveal player value and take us deeper into the X's and O's of how coordinator Josh McDaniels is attempting to attack the opposition.

Here is the big takeaway through three games: The usage of multiple-tight-end packages is down considerably compared to the past two seasons. Here is a simplified breakdown of the team's 232 offensive snaps (including penalties, not kneel-downs):

3 or more WRs: 142 of 232
2 backs: 61 of 232
2 or more TEs: 51 of 232

There is a 22-play overlap, which accounts for snaps in which there was a combination of 3 WRs/2 backs and 2-3 TEs/2 backs.

Four-year veteran Michael Hoomanawanui is playing most of the tight-end snaps.

When the Patriots added a second tight end last Sunday, it was either rookie Zach Sudfeld or veteran Matthew Mulligan. Sudfeld is more of a receiver-type, while Mulligan is more of a pure blocker. Because each of them trends clearly in one direction, it makes the Patriots a bit more predictable when they are in the game in multiple-tight-end packages.

So with a heavy focus on the passing game the first three weeks, it has essentially come down to a third receiver (most recently Aaron Dobson) being deemed more valuable than Sudfeld.

When Rob Gronkowski returns, it makes sense to think we could see an increase in multiple-tight-end groupings.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was once again on the practice fields Wednesday morning as he continues his recovery from offseason back and forearm surgeries.

He addressed the media following practice, though he said nothing of note as it relates to his status for this Sunday's game.

"There really is no update," he said. "You know how we go. And I'm improving every week."

Asked whether he thought he could be ready to play this Sunday, Gronkowski offered, "I don't know. As of right now, we're just focusing day by day and tomorrow is another step forward and we've got to see.

"I'm taking everything day by day and today I went out to practice, went into meetings, did everything normal, so just day by day and improving every day."

Gronkowski reinforced that a big part of his recovery process is regaining the strength throughout his body that was lost as a result of the time off from working out.

"Yeah, definitely, and like I said before, that's part of the whole rehab process," he said of getting his strength back. "I mean, it's not just rehabbing your back and your arm. I took off my whole body for about a couple months, so you've got to get everything going again. All muscles firing again at all parts of your body."

The 24-year-old said his strength is improving, which is evidenced by his frame filling out. Though Gronkowski lost muscle mass, he said that he hasn't lost any weight throughout the process.

"I don't lose weight. I can look skinny and still be the same amount of weight," he said, before cracking. "It goes by skinny or looking jacked."

When asked whether he was back to the state of being jacked, Gronkowski quipped, "You guys tell me."

Before the New England Patriots play a game, we'll attempt to predict the team's inactive players.

Our best guess on the list for Sunday's home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Danny Amendola -- Receiver was listed as doubtful on the injury report (groin) and doesn't look like he's ready to play at this point.

Steve Beauharnais -- Linebacker was a healthy scratch last week, as his primary contributions would come on special teams at this point.

Brandon Bolden -- Running back has missed the first two games and is questionable with a knee injury. The Patriots could use his special-teams presence with Matthew Slater out, but he might need a little more time. He said Friday that he was unsure of his status.

Dan Connolly -- Starting right guard has been limited all week with a finger injury, which raises questions about his availability. Could mean Marcus Cannon steps in.

Rob Gronkowski -- If this was a playoff game, or even the Super Bowl, the feeling is that the tight end would be ready to play. But no need to rush things in Week 3 of the regular season.

Chris Jones -- Defensive tackle was claimed on waivers last week from the Buccaneers and is still being integrated into the system.

Matthew Slater -- Special-teams captain has already been declared out with a wrist injury.

Extra point: With Slater out, safety Kanorris Davis could be in line for a promotion from the practice squad. If that happens, tight end Matthew Mulligan and defensive tackle Chris Jones would be candidates to potentially create a spot for Davis.

Has it been pretty? Far from it, but the Patriots started their preparation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a situation that only seven other teams could lay claim to: unblemished through two games.

The payoff of defeating the Jets during a short Week 2 is that the team had 10 days to prepare for its next opponent, the Bucs, who travel to town this weekend with an 0-2 record following disappointing last-second defeats.

The Bucs aren’t shying away from their record, but to cast them as an incapable team is shortsighted -- talent exists up and down the roster, with star power on both sides of the football.

One has to figure that Tampa Bay will be playing with an extreme sense of urgency, looking to avoid an 0-3 hole to start the season, while the Patriots have a chance to capture their first 3-0 start since the 2007 season.

With kickoff closing in, here are our five items we’ll be watching for.

1. Return of Gronk; improved passing game? This much we know for sure about Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski: He’s improving, but still day-to-day. Will Week 3 mark the return of Gronk? He hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game (he's listed as questionable), but it’s possible he needs just a little more time before seeing game action. Gronk or no Gronk, will the passing game pick up enough after a disappointing Week 2 performance? The rookie receivers need to sharpen their games with another likely absence from Danny Amendola, with Julian Edelman likely to be prominently featured as well.

2. Revis Island. Make no mistake about it, even as he continues to work his way back from an ACL tear suffered early last season, cornerback Darrelle Revis has played at a high level since joining the Bucs. He’s familiar with the Patriots after several seasons with the Jets, and it will be interesting to see how the Bucs deploy Revis on Sunday and whether the Patriots test the All-Pro. Might Tampa Bay use Revis to blanket Edelman, the Patriots' top receiving option right now (he’s hardly been used in the slot thus far, where Edelman primarily lined up last week)? Conversely, if Revis aligns to just one side of the field, will Tom Brady stay away from him and look for other options? He’s the type of player defenses construct their coverages around and offenses often shy away from.

3. Power running game of Tampa Bay. The Patriots dressed just three defensive tackles in Week 2, relying upon defensive end Chandler Jones as a reserve-level option periodically. If there were a week where dressing an additional defensive tackle -- former Buc Chris Jones? -- could be needed, this is it, as the Bucs possess one of the biggest and most powerful offensive lines to lead the way for sensational second-year back Doug Martin. Donald Penn controls the left side, while star guard Carl Nicks (foot) has been a limited practice participant this week. Regardless of who lines up for the Bucs, it’ll be a test for the Patriots' interior defensive line, where Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly will need to set the tone in building the first line of run stuffing.

4. Replacing Slater. Special-teams ace Matthew Slater has been unable to practice this week due to a wrist injury and looks unlikely to play. The question immediately turns to the kicking game and how the Patriots can attempt to fill the void, or at least partially do so. One area that we’ll be keeping a particularly close eye on is the gunner spot on the punt team. If there’s one area where Slater has routinely made a difference, that’s it, as he has terrific open-field speed and the strength and toughness to beat the vices at the line of scrimmage. Marquice Cole is likely to occupy one gunner position, but how will the team account for Slater’s absence? Could it be a player like Brandon Jones, Tavon Wilson or Kyle Arrington? Practice squad defensive back Kanorris Davis seems like a candidate to be promoted on Saturday as well.

5. Handling exotic schemes/pressures. The Bucs are off to a red-hot start with nine sacks in their first two games, but they don’t just generate pressure with conventional looks. They attack opposing offenses with a number of unique fronts, tilting their defensive linemen, using their linebackers and safeties in pressure packages, and consistently disrupting the integrity of the pocket. That puts the onus on center Ryan Wendell and quarterback Tom Brady to identify rushers and anticipate where the pressure will be coming from and in turn communicate it to the rest of the line. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is a name to keep in mind, as he has unique first-step quickness and the ability to cross the face of an opposing guard to work his way toward the quarterback.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Wednesday morning about tight end Rob Gronkowski's availability for game action, he made the point that the team hadn't practiced yet that day.

"He looks great sitting in a meeting," Belichick said.

Two days later, the Patriots have had two practices -- one in full pads -- and Belichick was asked another Gronkowski-based question this morning: "How encouraged are you with his progress?"

"Rob's been out there. He's getting better every day. He's working hard, no question about that," he answered.

Belichick isn't about to reveal Gronkowski's official status for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers at this point; that will come later today when the Patriots' official injury report is released about 4 p.m. ET.

Gronkowski was listed as doubtful on the final injury report the first two weeks of the season.

There were no changes to the New England Patriots' participation report Thursday from an injury perspective, as tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Danny Amendola remained limited.

Meanwhile, special-teams captain Matthew Slater was the lone player to not practice at all. The Boston Herald previously reported that he fractured his wrist and will be out four to six weeks.

It looks like rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld is closer to returning as he has had full participation over the last two practices. He missed the Week 2 win against the Jets with a hamstring injury.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola received good news earlier this week, as reports from the Boston Herald and WBZ-TV in Boston stated that he would not need surgery to repair a groin injury suffered in Week 1.

Amendola was spotted at the start of practice both Monday and Wednesday, which seemed to immediately solicit a pair of reactions when word was passed along through both Twitter and our web coverage: Why is he out there? Which in turn led to: Are the Patriots playing cat-and-mouse with the Buccaneers, their Week 3 opponent, trying to paint the perception that Amendola will be available this Sunday, which seems unlikely based on previous reports about his timetable to recover?

Let’s attack these one at a time.

Why is Amendola out there? Well, consider a few things. First, media members are limited to just a small portion of practice -- typically stretching and individual period drills. For all we know, Amendola’s days of work concluded shortly after that time when the team moves forward into 11-on-11 drills and other more up-tempo portions of practice.

Second, as Amendola doesn’t need surgery, this injury seems to fall under the category of “building the strength back up through on-field work.” Put otherwise: The Patriots wouldn’t put Amendola on the practice field if it were inhibiting his rehabilitation. The ends don’t justify the means, not by a long shot.

Which is why a suggestion that Amendola’s presence is tied to convincing the Buccaneers he will play is far-fetched, too.

NFL coaches around the league pour in close to 100 hours a week in preparation for their next opponent, an amount that quickly adds up as they work to turn over every stone imaginable. Count on this: If Amendola hadn’t practiced Monday or again today, the Buccaneers would still be preparing for a Patriots offense that includes him, just as the Bills and Jets accounted for the possibility of facing tight end Rob Gronkowski in recent weeks (Bucs coach Greg Schiano admitted as much Wednesday, saying they’ll prepare for both players until they’re ruled out).

During my time with the Kansas City Chiefs, we faced the Philadelphia Eagles in Michael Vick’s first game back after a league suspension that spanned into the third week of the 2009 regular season. Vick hadn’t played a meaningful football game since 2006 and wasn’t the starter in Philadelphia; that title belonged to Kevin Kolb.

And yet, during the course of our preparation that week, Vick was a talking point during each practice as we schemed ways to prevent him from hurting us with both his legs and his arm. He could present a unique challenge, we thought.

As it turned out, he hardly played, misfiring on two throws and rushing once for a harmless 7 yards.

Vick’s impact was felt more in the week leading up to the game than on the field itself.

And that’s the nature of coaching: Prepare for everything, regardless of how likely or unlikely it is to occur.

Looking Ahead

What became clear in Week 2 is what we all expected to find out: The Patriots' passing attack needs Amendola. The team knows that, too, and it wouldn’t put him in a position to hinder that possibility coming to fruition sooner rather than later.

And while the Patriots might well be without Amendola again this weekend, reinforcements could return in the form of Gronkowski.

ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder reported earlier this week that Gronk has a 50-50 chance to play this weekend. He’s been a regular at practice in recent weeks, though he has been listed as limited as he continues to recover from back and forearm surgeries.

The tight end was noncommittal on his status when talking with reporters Wednesday, adding only that he’s improving and remains "day-to-day."

When Gronkowski does return, whether it’s this week or further down the line, it will take time for him to work his way back to his old self. After all, it’s been nearly 10 months since he took the field.

But his impact will be quickly felt, not just by the catches and blocks he makes on his own, but the ripple effect it has on others as well. The Patriots need Gronkowski’s presence for the spacing of their offense -- defenses gravitate toward the hulking target, creating room for others.

They certainly need Gronkowski in the red zone, an area in which they’ve struggled out of the gate. The Patriots were among the leaders in red zone offense last season, but dating back to the AFC Championship Game (played without Gronkowski), they’ve scored just three touchdowns in 12 red zone possessions, a measly 25 percent success ratio. Gronkowski’s size and strength make him an imposing target all over the field, but especially in the red zone, where the space to work is condensed.

As is the case with Amendola, questions remain about Gronkowski and his immediate future. These two, when healthy, are the two most potent pass-catchers for the Patriots.

So in a time when the passing game has recently hiccuped, all eyes will remain on Gronkowski and Amendola, both within the organization and from the outside.

How soon they return remains to be seen, but how much they will mean when they do is indisputable.

Wide receiver Danny Amendola (groin) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (back/forearm) were among seven Patriots who were limited due to injury during Wednesday's practice. Matthew Slater (wrist) was the lone injury-related absence.

Amendola has been at practice both days this week but has worked gingerly through drills in limited reps. Gronkowski, meanwhile, continues his rehab and appears to be nearing a return, perhaps as soon as this week; ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder reported he is 50-50 to play this Sunday.

Slater reportedly suffered a broken wrist during the Week 2 win over the Jets, an injury the team will have to keep in mind in particular as it relates to their special teams, which Slater is a captain of. Cornerback Marquice Cole was also not at practice Wednesday, though the team said it was not injury related.

Offensive lineman Dan Connolly was an addition to the injury report with a finger injury that was sustained against the Jets last Thursday night.

Tight end Zach Sudfeld appears closer to a return; he was a full participant in practice after missing Week 2 with a hamstring injury.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels held conference calls with reporters today.

Some of the things we learned:

Full load for Revis. Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis was eased back into the mix in the season opener as he came back from ACL surgery, playing 53 of 75 defensive snaps. This past Sunday against the Saints, he played 70 of 73 snaps. "It definitely looks like he’s back and playing well," Belichick said.

Gronkowski affects plans. As ESPN's Stats and Information pointed out Tuesday, Patriots tight ends rank last in the NFL in receptions, yards and drop percentage, and 31st in targets. So it seemed sort of obvious when McDaniels said that if tight end Rob Gronkowski plays for the first time this season, it would naturally have a trickle-down effect on the team's plans. "I think any time you have a player that can make the kind of impact that Rob has made in the past, if you have a player like that back, it has to affect your plan and hopefully only in a positive manner," he said.

Getting a feel for Buccaneers' sub packages. Tampa played quite a bit of dime defense Sunday against the Saints, using safety Mark Barron (2012 first-round pick) in a linebacker-type role and often matching him up against the tight end. The Buccaneers played dime when the Saints went to "11 personnel" grouping (1 back, 1 tight end, 3 receivers) and that could be the key matchup to Sunday's game. In the nickel, second-round draft choice Johnthan Banks came on as the fifth defensive back and played outside corner, pushing starter Leonard Johnson into the slot.

Family affair for McDaniels assistants. This will mark the first time that McDaniels, the Patriots' offensive coordinator, is on the opposite sideline as his brother Ben, a Buccaneers coaching assistant, in a regular season game. "I wish him all the success in the world because he is my brother, but for one weekend we’re going to try to do everything we can to be successful on our side," Josh McDaniels said. "I know they will do the same."