New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had an MRI on Monday morning, reportedly has a sprained right ankle with no breaks or fractures.
Brady is expected to be ready for the team’s divisional round playoff game in two weeks, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The Patriots have a first-round playoff bye before hosting a divisional-round game.
Brady was limping noticeably after Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He took a hard hit from Dolphins defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh early in the second quarter.
“I’m pretty sore,” Brady said after the game, “but it will be all right.”
The Patriots (12-4), who had already clinched a first-round playoff bye but were playing for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, employed a conservative offensive game plan at Sun Life Stadium.
Brady completed just 12 of 21 passes for a season-low 134 yards and no touchdowns. He was sacked twice and took some hits to his legs and back.
Brady required medical attention on the sideline after the Suh hit. The athletic training staff and medical staff re-taped his right ankle.
Brady stayed in the game, but the Patriots replaced him with backup Jimmy Garoppolo on their final drive with 1:56 remaining when they were trailing 20-10.
“I’ve had plenty worse injuries than this one,” Brady said Monday morning during his weekly appearance on sports radio WEEI in Boston. “Suh is a big guy and he just came down on the back of me. Obviously, however big he is — 300 pounds — and he just kind of collapses on the back of your legs, there is going to be some residual damage to that. It’s part of football.
“I’ll just work hard to get the right treatment. I’ve always dealt with injuries. I’m very confident I know how to deal with injuries. Believe me, I’ll be doing everything I can to be out there. There is nothing else in my life that’s a priority at this point other than getting to feel like I’m 100 percent.”
On Sunday, the Patriots defense struggled against the pass. They allowed Miami’s Ryan Tannehill to pass for 350 yards. In addition, Tannehill produced a big 19-yard run on Miami’s game-winning drive, converting on a key third-down play.
Despite Brady’s ankle sprain, the Patriots, who are the Super Bowl co-favorites, along with the Arizona Cardinals, at 7-2, are getting healthier just in time for the playoffs. Several starters sat out Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins — WR Julian Edelman (foot), LT Sebastian Vollmer (ankle), DE Chandler Jones (toe/abdomen) and LB Dont’a Hightower (knee). But all of them should be ready for the playoffs, which would be a big boost for New England.
NOTES: TE Rob Gronkowski was targeted seven times but made just two catches for 18 yards on Sunday. Gronkowski drew constant double-teams as Miami showed little respect for New England’s other weapons. … WR Danny Amendola, who had missed one game due to a knee injury, returned and caught two passes for 17 yards. He was targeted just four times as the Patriots employed a conservative game plan.