WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia -- The Patriots and Texans finished up a physical practice at the Greenbrier on Wednesday afternoon, their final joint session before Saturday's preseason game in Houston.
The Patriots took another hit at the defensive end position as Derek Rivers left the practice a little over an hour into the practice following a kick coverage drill. Patriots trainer Jim Whalen appeared to be checking on Rivers' left knee. Rivers got off the turf and walked into the Greenbrier Sports Performance Center with team staffers. He did not return.
Here are some of the other news and notes we picked up from Wednesday's workout . . .
ATTENDANCE
* LaAdrian Waddle and LeShun Daniels, both of whom failed to finish Tuesday's practice, joined the list of Patriots absentees from Tuesday: Nate Solder, Tony Garcia, Matthew Slater, Brandon King, Keionta Davis, Deatrich Wise, Dont'a Hightower (PUP), Andrew Jelks (NFI), Shea McClellin, Matt Lengel and Mike Gillislee.
NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS
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* About 15 minutes after Rivers' injury, Kony Ealy was rolling around on the ground, reaching for his shoulder. He returned at 11:50 and had a handful of effective pass-rush snaps during a hurry-up period coming off the right edge. He said after practice he feels as though he's heading in the right direction and building some positive momentum.
* With LaAdrian Waddle out -- joining Nate Solder and Tony Garcia as injured left-tackle options -- Cameron Fleming took all of the reps with the top group on Tom Brady's blind side. Fleming was beaten by Whitney Mercilus for a pair of sacks in team drills and he lost to Mercilus in their lone 1-on-1 rep against one another. At one point, the Patriots placed Dion Lewis just off of Fleming's hip to chip Mercilus, and Mercilus ran over Lewis. Fleming did get the better of Mercilus at the end of practice, putting Mercilus on the ground and helping to give Brady enough time to find James White for a touchdown to finish off a hurry-up period.
* The Patriots came onto the field with a defense that seemed to be a healthy mix of regulars and reserves. Jordan Richards and Duron Harmon were the safeties. Derek Rivers was at one end with Harvey Langi on the other. Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore were at the corner spots. On the next series, Patrick Chung came onto the field as did Devin McCourty. Trevor Bates and Jonathan Freeny handled the edges while David Harris manned the middle.
* Dion Lewis, Danny Amendola and Cyrus Jones were the returners during what was a significantly more physical set of special-teams periods.
* After sitting out most of Tuesday's practice, Stephon Gilmore was out there in 11-on-11 work. Eric Rowe saw time in the slot with Malcolm Butler and Gilmore on the outside and handled himself well.
* James O'Shaughnessy made what was perhaps the play of the day, plucking a Tom Brady pass off of the helmet of Bernardrick McKinney. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was as excited by that play as he's been all camp. O'Shaughnessy has missed significant practice time due to injury but was a full participant on Tuesday, seeing passes in fully-padded 11-on-11 work for the first time in a long time. He caught all four balls (three from Garoppolo) thrown his way.
* Harris had some difficulty keeping up with Texans backs in coverage, allowing Texans quarterbacks to complete all five passes that were sent in his direction.
* After a quiet practice on Tuesday, Brandin Cooks caught five of eight passes from Brady, including a long touchdown on a post route with Texans corner Kevin Johnson in coverage. Cooks did have one drop.
1-ON-1 NOTES
Cannon beat Watt
Mercilus beat Fleming
Thuney beat Dunn
McDermott beat Scarlett
Hatley beat Karras
Ferentz beat Ankou
Pratt beat Cannon on speed to power
Andrews beat Hatley
Ankou beat King
Fleming got the edge on Lee
McDermott got the best of Tony Washington
Mercilus breezed past Croston
11-ON-11 NOTES
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Rivers sacks Savage. Patriots sideline into it.
* Miller run.
* Miller run.
* Savage incomplete to Ellington. Gilmore in coverage. PI on Gilmore.
* Watson complete to Stephen Anderson.
* Foreman run.
* Watson run. Ealy pressured him out of the pocket.
* Foreman run. Ealy blown out of the play.
* Savage complete to Blue with Harris in coverage.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Burkhead run.
* Burkhead run.
* Brady complete to Edelman.
* Lewis run.
* Brady sacked by Mercilus working on Fleming.
* Brady complete to Hogan. Mercilus hammers Lewis, who was chipping to help Fleming.
* Bolden run.
* Garoppolo complete to O'Shaughnessy.
* Bolden run.
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Savage complete to Prosch.
* Miller run. Edge set by Van Noy.
* Savage incomplete to Ellington with Rowe in coverage. Ellington drop.
* Punt. Cyrus Jones returns. Double-caught it.
* Savage hands to Miller.
* Savage would have been sacked by Harris. Brown blows up screen.
* Watson incomplete to Blue over the middle.
* Foreman run. Stuffed by Branch.
* Watson complete to Griffin with Ebner in coverage. Ball bobbled.
* Watson incomplete over the middle. Ealy hurt.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Brady complete to Cooks.
* Brady incomplete to Cooks. Cooks drop.
* Brady complete to Cooks on the sideline. Perfect throw and catch.
* Punt.
* Lewis run.
* Brady complete to Hogan.
* Brady complete to White on screen.
* Lewis run.
* Garoppolo complete to Lewis.
* Garoppolo complete to Gronkowski.
* Allen shanks a punt.
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Adam Butler sack.
* Miller run.
* Savage complete to Ellington. Rowe gets to him before any gain.
* Punt.
* Savage incmoplete over the middle. Bates there in coverage. Well played.
* Savage complete to Anderson with Richards in coverage.
* Watson complete to Strong over the middle. Van Noy flushes him from pocket.
* Punt.
* Watson sacked by Bates.
* Watson complete to Anderson.
* Watson incomplete to Allen. Allen drop. Well-placed pass.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Brady complete to O'Shaughnessy.
* Bolden run.
* Brady complete to Edelman.
* Punt.
* Brady sacked by Mercilus, who was working on Fleming.
* Bolden run.
* Brady incomplete for Amendola. Cunningham PBU.
* Garoppolo complete to Allen on roll-out.
* Bolden run.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Mitchell. PBU Moore. Nearly picked.
* Punt.
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Miller run. Ealy's back.
* Blue run. Guy there to make the stop.
* Blue run.
* Savage complete to Foreman. Roberts in coverage, looked like he missed an assignment.
* Roberts strips Ervin, Rowe recovers for score.
* Watson incomplete. Langi pressure.
* Watson complete to Griffin. Harmon there in coverage, but was boxed out.
* Foreman run. Patriots emphasizing strips all practice. Got him on a late one.
* Watson complete to Ervin with Harris in coverage. Eludes Butler pressure.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Brady complete to Cooks on post for a touchdown. Beat Kevin Johnson.
* Burkhead run.
* Brady incomplete to Gronkowski. Gilchrist PBU. Brady grabs his helmet in shame.
* Brady complete to Burkhead.
* Burkhead run.
* Mercilus offsides.
* White run.
* Burkhead run.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Carr.
* Garoppolo sacked by Kamalu. Pass incomplete to Carr.
TEXANS OFFENSE (HURRY)
* Savage complete to Griffin with Chung in coverage.
* Savage complete to Miller with Harris in coverage.
* Savage incomplete for Griffin with Chung in coverage.
* Savage complete to Miller with Harris in coverage.
* Savage incomplete to Griffin with McCourty in coverage.
* Savage complete to Strong for a touchdown with Butler in coverage. Butler stumbled as the pass approached.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE (HURRY)
* Brady incomplete for Edelman.
* Brady complete to Hogan on a post for a touchdown. Cunningham beat in coverage. Watt got a lot of attention. Cannon, Mason, Andrews all got a shot in.
* Brady complete to Cooks.
* Brady incomplete out of the back of the end zone.
* Brady complete to White for a touchdown. Fleming put Mercilus on the ground. After the play Edelman got mixed up with Gilchrist and Hal. Lots of chatter.
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Watson complete to Hardee.
* Watson incomplete to McCarron. Perfect pass. Jonathan Jones PBU.
* Watson sacked by Ealy off the right side.
* Watson incomplete to Williams. Ealy pressure.
* Watson incomplete on Hail Mary. Coleman PBU. Ealy good effort.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Garoppolo complete to Carr.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Carr. Overthrown.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Amendola. Amendola drop.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Mitchell.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Carr. Overthrown.
* Brissett finished his run at the end of practice 3-for-7.
7-ON-7 (RED ZONE)
TEXANS OFFENSE
* Savage complete to Ervin with Rowe in coverage.
* Savage incomplete to Anderson. Butler PBU.
* Savage complete to Ervin with Harris in coverage.
* Watson complete to Griffin with Ebner in coverage.
* Watson complete to Jaelen Strong in the back corner of the end zone on Cyrus Jones. Perfectly-thrown pass.
* Coverage sack. Play blown dead.
* Weeden complete to Anderson.
* Weeden tuck and run.
* Weeden complete to Anderson with J. Jones in coverage.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE
* Brady incomplete to Cooks out of the end zone. Overthrown.
* Brady incomplete to Cooks. Joseph PBU.
* Brady incomplete to Edelman. Edelman drop.
* Brady complete to Cooks over the middle.
* Brady incomplete to Burkhead. Pass broken up.
* Garoppolo complete to O'Shaughnessy.
* Garoppolo incomplete to Mitchell. Roberson PBU.
* Garoppolo complete to O'Shaughnessy.