They'll sink or swim minus Poole

FOXBOROUGH -- So much for the bye week bringing about an improvement in the Patriots' injury situation.

Cornerback Tyrone Poole, out since the first game of the season, is officially done for the year after being placed on injured reserve yesterday with a slow-to-heal ankle injury.

The move could very well mark the end of Poole's career with the Patriots. The 10-year veteran is scheduled to make $1.5 million in 2006, the final year of his contract, but he carries a hefty salary cap number of slightly more than $2.5 million, thanks to a $500,000 roster bonus and the final prorated portion of the $1.8 million signing bonus he picked up when he joined New England as a free agent in 2003.

Poole is the second defensive back to be placed on IR since the Patriots played at Denver Oct. 16. He joins safety Guss Scott, whose season came to an end because of a knee injury suffered against the Broncos. This is the third straight week the Patriots have lost a member of the secondary for the year, as cornerback Chad Scott was placed on IR Oct. 12. Safety Rodney Harrison was previously declared out for the year because of a knee injury.

Poole's status came as a surprise, as he had gone from declaring himself ready to play two weeks ago, to wearing a protective boot and walking with crutches last week, to practicing Wednesday without any tape on the injured ankle.

But Poole was downgraded from questionable (50-50 chance of playing) prior to the Denver game, to doubtful (75 percent chance of not playing) on the Wednesday afternoon injury report.

Last week, coach Bill Belichick said Poole had not suffered a setback despite the use of the crutches. Poole, who started the season opener, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but indicated in a radio interview earlier during the week that he was progressing and felt good.

Extremely spiritual, with a deep-seated respect for family togetherness, Poole has endured a difficult season off the field, as his father died in September. He told the Globe two years ago that he sat out the 2001 season with the Broncos because his family was not able to move to Denver with him.

The Patriots now have only six of the 10 defensive backs who began the season on their roster, and one of those -- cornerback Randall Gay -- hasn't played since Week 2 and is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against Buffalo with an ankle injury.

Asante Samuel and Duane Starks have started at cornerback the last four games, and are likely to continue doing so. Safety Eugene Wilson (questionable, flu) walked slowly through the locker room yesterday, and did not practice. Rookie safety James Sanders (questionable, ankle) was not present at the first part of the workout.

Ready to wear?

A team source said that those in charge of the Patriots' equipment have placed an order for new No. 54 jerseys for Sunday's game.

According to Belichick, Tedy Bruschi, the player who owns that number, has looked fine in practice in his return from a mild stroke.

''He's looked OK," Belichick said. ''He's done what we've asked him to do. I don't think that he's had any problem with it. When will we make the decision [if he'll play]? When we're sure that the decision that we're making is . . . that we're not going to have to double back on it. That we're sure it's going to be the right decision for that point in time."

By placing Poole on IR, the Patriots would not have to make another roster reduction should they choose to move Bruschi from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster. Even if he is placed on the 53-man roster, a decision would have to be made as to whether he would be among the 45 players active for Sunday's game. Injuries have given Belichick little room to make decisions the last couple of games.

Cornerback Hank Poteat and receiver Andre' Davis, recent additions, have been participating with what appears to be the starting kickoff team.

Shooting from the hip

Defensive end Ty Warren joined the injured list as questionable after hurting his hip at practice Wednesday. Warren did not practice yesterday, and team sources said his participation Sunday will likely be a game-time decision . . . Corey Dillon was on the practice field for the portion of the workout allowed to be viewed by the media for the first time since injuring his knee Oct. 9.

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed.