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Tom Brady practices with brace, expects to play Friday

The football world ground to a screeching halt Wednesday upon learning that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had tweaked his knee. One day later, calm has been restored.

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Brady fully practiced Thursday and expects to play in Friday's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL.com's Albert Breer reported. The game will come just two days after Brady suffered a bruise to his left knee at Wednesday's joint practice with the Bucs.

Brady trotted through Thursday's session wearing a hinged knee brace, Breer reported. ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss noted the 36-year-old passer showed no limitations during a "slower-paced" practice.

"I'm good," Brady told reporters, via The Associated Press. "You can all go home."

Brady was injured Wednesday when Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn bull-rushed Patriots offensive tackle Nate Solder, who then fell into his quarterback. MRI results revealed Brady's knee didn't suffer any structural damage, and the reconstruction of the ACL that he tore in Week 1 of the 2008 season wasn't compromised, Breer reported.

Nobody would blame the Patriots for sealing Brady in bubble wrap until September, but that goes against everything the quarterback has stood for during his 13-year career. Brady never has shied away from preseason snaps. Especially not now, as he builds chemistry with his cast of young pass-catchers.

Breathe easy, New England. All is well.