Sick players took separate flight to Houston

HOUSTON — It’s a good thing Patriots owner Robert Kraft owns two team airplanes.

After an illness swept through the Patriots locker room this week, the team organized two separate flights from T.F. Green Airport to get to Houston on Saturday, according to a source. The Patriots had one flight for most of their players and team staff and then had another for individuals who were sick.

The goal was simple — contain the illness that had kept nine different players out of practice this week and keep the healthy players healthy. In total, the Patriots listed nine players as questionable, because of illnesses, for Sunday’s matchup with Houston. They already had ruled out one player, tight end Ryan Izzo.

From the outside looking in, the Patriots had a challenging time preparing for Houston this week due to all the absences. On Wednesday, eight players — safety Patrick Chung, linebacker Jamie Collins, Izzo, offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, defensive back JoeJuan Williams and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn – missed practice because they were sick.

It started with Marcus Cannon, who almost didn’t play last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys because he felt so sick. The right tackle was still limited this week. On Wednesday, safety Devin McCourty said that multiple players arrived at Gillette Stadium only to be sent home because they had caught the bug.

“This is probably, for me in my 10 years here, this is probably the most guys I’ve seen just be gone with being sick,” McCourty said. “No injury or anything, we just had guys that came in and you look in their eyes and you could tell they were just out of it. So, hopefully, a day at home with meds and rest will help guys out.”

By Thursday, Chung, Collins, Eluemunor and Gilmore returned in a limited fashion. By Friday, Wynn and Williams also returned to practice. Friday’s practice also saw linebacker Kyle Van Noy absent with an illness. None of the sick players was a full practice participant this week.

The team traveled to Houston with an additional 15 players listed as questionable. Nine of those players were dealing with illnesses and the hope is that the separate flight will keep the illness contained.

Receivers return

The Patriots expected to get back receivers Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett on Sunday night after both missed the Patriots win over Dallas a week ago. Sanu was close to playing last week, but was held out due to an ankle injury suffered the game before. Dorsett missed the Patriots' win because of a concussion suffered in Philadelphia.

Getting Sanu and Dorsett back should help quarterback Tom Brady as he was playing just three receivers last week — Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry.

Inactive for the Patriots was defensive back Jason McCourty (groin), Izzo (illness), defensive lineman Byron Cowart (head), running back Damien Harris, Eluemunor, quarterback Cody Kessler and offensive tackle Korey Cunningham. This marks the second game in a row that Jason McCourty has missed after starting the first 10 games of the season.

Still kicking in

Stephen Gostkowski might be out for the season but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been helping the Patriots.

The veteran kicker, who was lost for the season because of a hip injury, hasn’t played in a game for the Patriots since Week

4. Gostkowski, however, has continued to play a big role in the special teams unit by helping the new kickers along. And the advice has been necessary.

On Sunday, Kai Forbath became the fourth kicker the Patriots have used this season. The constant rotation has been difficult for rookie punter and holder Jake Bailey, but he said that Gostkowski has been helping him through his first season.

“Steve’s been around, too, to help me out with all that stuff,” Bailey said. “I’ve got a lot of good specialist leaders in this room — along with [special teams captain] Matt Slater and a bunch of the other guys — and they’re just helping me stay comfortable and stay calm. If anything, they’re just helping me out in practice. That’s where we get all of our mental and physical reps for the week, and that’s where we build confidence.”

After Gostkowski landed on injured reserve, the Patriots signed veteran Mike Nugent. He lasted only four games — making 62.5% (5 of 8) of his field-goal attempts, and missing one of his 16 extra-point attempts. The Patriots then turned to Nick Folk — who looked solid despite missing two kicks last weekend in the windy and rainy game against Dallas.

Folk, who made 77.8% of his field-goal attempts, had an appendectomy Thursday morning. That forced the Patriots to turn to Forbath, who practiced just once on Friday before traveling with the team to Houston on Saturday.

No Gronk, for sure

The "Gronk Watch" officially ended this week.

Former tight end Rob Gronkowski had until 4 p.m Saturday to return to the team to play this season. He did not, so the All-Pro cannot return this year. He had never formally submitted his retirement papers, so there was a slight chance Gronk would return to the Patriots — even though he stated he would not come back.

Of course, Gronkowski already has said that he might return in 2020. He’ll be a free agent, so that would open him up to all 32 NFL teams. "Gronk Watch 2020" could start any time.