Wide receiver Wes Welker returned to practice today after missing two sessions with an ankle injury, so he’s on track to play Sunday. Welker was present for yesterday’s walkthrough before leaving the field, so the plan all along might have been for him to get extra treatment while staying in touch with the game plan as much as possible. Right guard Dan Connolly also returned after missing a pair of practices with a back injury that he suffered in the second quarter against the Bills. However, left guard Logan Mankins was out for the third straight day with an ankle injury. Typically, players who miss every practice of the week don’t play in the game, but Mankins might be among the select few exceptions to that rule. Source: Boston Herald
