FOXBORO – It remains to be seen if the Patriots will finish the regular season on a strong note, but it looks like the team could be limping their way to their final game in Miami. On Wednesday, the Patriots were without Tom Brady (thigh), Dion Lewis (illness), Malcolm Mitchell (knee) and Danny Amendola (ankle) at their first practice of the week.

It’s quite possible that the coaching staff is letting some players rest up before the final game of the regular season. We’ll discover more over the course of this week. The Patriots will hold two final practices of the regular season on Thursday and Friday.

Out of the four absent players, both Brady (thigh) and Amendola (ankle) have been dealing with injuries before this week. Brady popped up on the injury report last week and was limited with a thigh injury. Earlier in the season, Brady also dealt with a knee injury. The quarterback is scheduled to talk with the media on Friday.

Lewis and Mitchell have no missed any practice or been limited over the second half of the season. Mitchell was last limited in practice on Oct. 28 with a hamstring injury. Seeing knee injury next to a player is always worrisome, but Mitchell was seen in the locker room this week and was moving around fine.

Lewis hasn’t been limited at all since coming off the physically unable to perform list. The running back did, however, have two knee surgeries over the past year. It’s a good sign that he’s only out with an illness.

The team had four players limited in practice - Martellus Bennett (ankle/shoulder), Dont'a Hightower (knee), Cyrus Jones (knee) and Matthew Slater (foot). Jones is also a new addition to the injury report.

The last thing the Patriots want is to go into the playoffs with multiple injuries on the offensive end. With Rob Gronkowski out until next season, the team certainly needs Mitchell and Lewis to help pick up the slack for Brady. The team's injury situation will be important to monitor as the week unfolds.