FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Speaking of newly acquired wide receiver Michael Floyd after Saturday's 41-3 win over the New York Jets, quarterback Tom Brady said, "He's one injury away from going in and being in there every down."
That very well could be the case in the New England Patriots' regular-season finale at Miami (CBS, 1 p.m. ET Sunday).
Rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell missed practice the past two days, thrusting Floyd up to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart alongside Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan. (Fellow receiver Danny Amendola remains out with an ankle injury.)
Floyd played 18 snaps in his Patriots debut on Saturday, with just two coming in the first half. Once the Patriots built a sizable lead, Floyd received extended playing time and said it felt good to get his first catch.
Brady is still getting familiar with Floyd, who was claimed on waivers Dec. 15 and has participated in five practices with the team.
"He's a big, physical player that competes hard for the ball. You've got to love that about receivers," Brady said after Saturday's game. "You go out there and you put it up there and you've got a big guy who goes up and tries to bring it down. So he's got to have opportunities to do that and we've got to find ways to try to keep getting him the ball."
Mitchell's knee injury appeared to have occurred midway through the third quarter on an 8-yard catch over the middle. Mitchell was tackled by cornerback Juston Burris and his right knee looked like it banged the turf. When Mitchell got up, he flexed his knee.
Mitchell was present, and in good spirits, during Wednesday's media access.
Elsewhere at practice Thursday, Brady (thigh) returned after missing Wednesday's session, as did running back Dion Lewis (illness). Cornerback Cyrus Jones (knee) was not spotted.
