FOXBORO – Tom Brady sliced his right thumb with a pair of scissors prior to Thursday night’s preseason game against the Bears and was sent home.

Brady was expected to start against the Bears after not playing at all in the preseason opener against New Orleans. But when he didn’t take the field for warmups and was seen leaving the stadium in regular clothes, it was clear something was amiss.

Apparently, Brady was trying to pry something from the bottom of his cleat prior to taking the field and sustained the cut.

It’s not known whether the cut required stitches or how long the wound will put him on the sidelines. It is standard practice for the Patriots to let players who are not playing in preseason games to leave the stadium.