Tom Brady practices Thursday, expects to play Friday

Tom Brady showed up at practice Thursday wearing a brace on his left knee, and the New England quarterback reportedly expects to play in Friday’s exhibition game against Tampa Bay.

Brady wasn’t wearing a protective brace Wednesday when he suffered a bruised knee in a joint practice with the Buccaneers. Onlookers were initially concerned that the injury was serious.

The injury occurred when Tampa Bay’s Adrian Clayborn drove Patriots left tackle Nate Solder into Brady and the three players fell to the ground. Brady clutched his knee and rocked backward in pain, but he was able to climb to his feet and limp off the field on his own power.

Medical experts say the fact that Brady practiced Thursday strongly indicates that there was no structural damage to the knee, which was rebuilt in 2008. He was injured in the 2008 opener and missed every game that season but has yet to miss a game since.

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