NFL
Patriots LB Robert Spillane (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
Spillane was a late addition to the injury report last week with a foot issue. He is now listed with an ankle injury, though we suspect they are one and the same. Spillane was active for Week 15 but did not play a snap. He was later spotted in a walking boot. Christian Ellis and Harold Landry also missed today’s practice. That is the Patriots’ top two tacklers and No. 1 pass-rusher all on the sidelines for Wednesday’s session. Their defense could be in a bind if all three are ruled out for Week 16.