Patriots Players Hammered By Flu Bug Ahead Of Texans Game, 8 Miss Practice

A flu bug “hit” more than a half-dozen Patriots players, and the rest reached for the best preventative measures. Things got really scary in Foxboro, and eight players missed practice. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins, offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, safety Patrick Chung, tight end Ryan Izzo, cornerback Joejuan Williams and offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor all missed practice Wednesday due to their condition.

Offensive tackle Marcus Cannon was probably patient zero for the outbreak, and he was limited in practice after struggling through the flu to play all but eight snaps in Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys at Gillett Stadium.

Special teams captain Matthew Slater said it was the season, adding that some players were affected. They are trying to stay germ-free as coach Bill Belichick likes to say. This means washing the hands more often.

“It is that season, so I know some guys have been hit by that,” Slater said Wednesday. “So we’ve got to try to, as Coach would say, stay germ-free. Wash your hands. Definitely wash your hands.”

Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett sat out the game against Dallas due to the concussion he earned in the game against Philadelphia. He cradled a bottle of Emergen-C as he talked to media members at his locker.

There’s a flu bug in the house

Players need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For Dorsett, it’s washing the hands, drinking Emergen-C, taking vitamins and hoping that the flu won’t hit you.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s going around, but we’ve just got to live a healthy lifestyle. Got to wash your hands, got to drink Emergen-C, take vitamins and hope that you don’t catch it.”

Safety Duron Harmon said the same thing. Wash your hands. Yes, you should do that, too. The flu bug goes around in the facility, and players can avoid it by washing their hands.

“Wash your hands,” Harmon said. “That’s the main thing. We’ve obviously got the flu bug going around, but wash your hands and keep washing your hands, and you’ll be all right.”

New England players are dealing with several non-illness-related ailments. A total of 18 Pats either missed practice or were listed as limited participants. This is the longest injury report of the regular season.

Dorsett, receiver Mohamed Sanu and cornerback Jason McCourty were limited participants after missing Sunday’s game due to an injury.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE

S Patrick Chung, Illness/Heel/Chest

LB Jamie Collins, Illness

OL Jermaine Eluemunor, Illness

CB Stephon Gilmore, Illness

LB Dont’a Hightower,Illness

TE Ryan Izzo, Illness

CB Joejuan Williams, Illness

OT Isaiah Wynn, Illness

LIMITED PARTICIPANTS

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, Knee

OT Marcus Cannon, Illness

WR Phillip Dorsett, Concussion

S Nate Ebner, Ankle/Back

WR Julian Edelman, Shoulder

CB Jason McCourty, Groin

WR Mohamed Sanu, Ankle

DE John Simon, Elbow

WR Matthew Slater, Hamstring