Alfonzo Dennard has attended all eight practices of training camp. However, he has not participated in the New England Patriots' last three practice sessions due to an unspecified minor injury, the Boston Herald reported Monday morning.
Some conspiracy theorists deduced that Dennard's lack of noticeable injury -- not wearing a brace, wrap or walking with a limp -- could mean the cornerback's absence was because of a DUI arrest earlier this offseason in Lincoln, Neb. The line of thinking figures the Patriots wanted to get other players time on the field in case Dennard missed time in the regular season.
The real reason is more logical, but it's a continuation of the worrisome injuries Dennard dealt with his rookie season. He missed most of his rookie training camp and four games with a hamstring injury and battled a knee injury that plagued him through the season. The corner then injured his shoulder earlier this offseason and missed minicamp.
The injuries, along with the legal concerns, put a strain on a Patriots secondary with depth issues. In Dennard's absence last week, Devin McCourty shifted down from his safety spot to his old role at corner.
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