FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The first official New England Patriots injury report of the season, released Wednesday, provided new details on the ailments that have slowed some of the team's key players.
Receiver Julian Edelman, who has been sidelined since playing six snaps in the Aug. 19 preseason game at Atlanta, has an injured foot. It's possible it occurred on Fred Taylor's 28-yard touchdown run, when Edelman blocked linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and disengaged a bit gingerly.
Running back Laurence Maroney has been held out of practice this week with a thigh injury. Maroney hadn't missed any training camp practices and played extensively in the preseason finale. With him not practicing Wednesday, it increases the likelihood that Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis will be the active running backs in the season opener.
Meanwhile, it is now clear that the injury sustained by rookie outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham in an Aug. 11 joint practice with the New Orleans Saints was to his ankle. Cunningham was playing on the punt return unit that day and got tangled up with a Saints player, with trainers looking at his lower left leg.
On Wednesday, Cunningham participated in his first practice since sustaining the injury. He was a full participant, joining defensive end Ron Brace (ankle) and cornerback Kyle Arrington (groin) as injured players making their returns to the practice field.
Elsewhere, rookie defensive end Brandon Deaderick (toe), tight end Aaron Hernandez (knee), defensive end Myron Pryor (knee) and receiver Matt Slater (hamstring) had full participation in practice while battling through injuries.
Offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (back) and cornerback Terrence Wheatley (foot) remain out of practice. Receiver Randy Moss was also held out with an illness.
Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.