FOXBOROUGH – The knee injury that kept Alan Branch out of the final three games of the regular season is no longer concerning for the Patriots defensive lineman.
“I feel great, man, I feel good,’’ Branch said Friday at Gillette Stadium.
Yet Branch understands a clean bill of health is not the only deciding factor in whether he plays in Sunday’s AFC Championship against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Branch made similar remarks last week. He said he was healthy enough to play, but he was not activated for the divisional-round win against the Titans last Saturday.
“Nothing’s changed at all man, I’m feeling good,’’ Branch said. “It’s just not my call. I have to keep working as if I am in the game and if I’m not, we’ll see.’’
The Patriots went with veteran Ricky Jean Francois, the other backup defensive tackle behind Lawrence Guy and Malcom Brown, against the Titans. Jean Francois played 23 snaps (34 percent) and had one sack.
“I don’t play this game just to sit on the sidelines,’’ Branch said when asked if he was disappointed he was inactive. “If there’s a game to be played, I want to be in it.’’
The Patriots seem confident in the ability of Jean Francois, who was re-signed Dec. 13 after the Patriots cut him Dec. 2. He signed with the Patriots Nov. 7.
“We have the same decision every week,’’ coach Bill Belichick said when asked why Branch was inactive against the Titans. “We have 53 players on the roster, and we can activate 46. So, it’s the same for every team. It’s the same every week throughout the entire National Football League season. That’s the way it will be this week. That’s the way it’s been for a long time. So, we do what we think is best for the team based on all the things that factor into those decisions.’’
Branch has been down this path with the Patriots. After signing a two-year, $8.45 million contract in the offseason — he was one of the team’s most consistent performers in 2016 — Branch was benched earlier this season and did not travel to Tampa Bay in Week 5.
He returned to start five of the next seven games, and played at least 22 snaps or more in each of those games until he got injured against the Dolphins in Week 14.
“My preparation is going to be the same regardless whether I play or not,’’ Branch said. “I’m still watching film, practicing hard, it’s more so if I get called up or not. I just don’t think there’s any other way to deal with it. You have to keep going. I’m not going to sit and cry. It is what it is.’’
Coverage loss
When the Patriots placed Jonathan Jones on injured reserve Wednesday, it confirmed that the team would be without one of its best special team performers the remainder of the playoffs.
Jones, who hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter against the Titans, has been a stalwart in the kicking game, particularly as a gunner on the punt team. He’s been dependable, playing every regular-season game in his first two seasons. Jones played 289 snaps this season on special teams, second-most on the team.
His contribution on special teams is hard to understate, but the Patriots will also be losing depth at the cornerback position. Jones was a regular contributor much of the season, filling in for both Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe, who missed three and seven games, respectively.
“I’m very excited for this week and preparing to play my best against Jacksonville,’’ Johnson Bademosi said. “It’s our job to prepare to play our best no matter what the situation is.’’
If the Patriots prefer to stick with their current 53-man roster, Bademosi will serve as the fourth cornerback. Bademosi was inactive against the Titans, but has played five games on defense this season and is also a regular special teams contributor.
“Yeah, Bademosi’s done a good job for us,’’ Belichick said. “He’s made a lot of big plays for us defensively and in the kicking game. Throughout the course of the year, his role has changed, as often happens with players — role changes from week to week or during the course of the year. He’s always ready to go, does a great job in his preparation and gives us everything he’s got, whatever we ask him to do.’’
Injury update
In addition to Tom Brady, running backs Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee and right tackle LaAdrian Waddle are questionable for Sunday’s game with knee injuries and were limited participants in practice Friday. Branch also is questionable with a knee injury and was limited . . . Former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe will serve as the team’s honorary captain in the AFC Championship. Bledsoe and the Patriots beat the Jaguars, 20-6, in the AFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl XXXI, in the 1996 season. It was the first conference championship game the Patriots hosted. Sunday’s game will be the eighth AFC Championship they have hosted, and the seventh at Gillette Stadium.
