Thomas out tonight after surgery on right arm

FOXBOROUGH - Adalius Thomas is definitely out for tonight's game against the Jets, but he's not definitely out for the season - at least not yet.

According to an NFL source with knowledge of Thomas's injury, the Patriots outside linebacker had surgery yesterday to repair a broken right forearm. Several reports had said Thomas broke his left forearm last Sunday during the Patriots' 20-10 victory over the Bills, but the source said the injury was to Thomas's right arm.

Two sources said doctors have not told Thomas he is out for the season. The decision may ultimately come down to what the prognosis is for his recovery time and whether the Patriots think it's worth sacrificing a spot on the 53-man roster for an extended period to keep the option of having Thomas potentially ready to return.

That decision could be made as soon as today, when Thomas goes for a follow-up.

The Patriots have held off on placing Thomas on injured reserve, which would officially end his season. Until he is placed on IR, he is still eligible to play this season. IR is still the most likely course, but it would make sense that the Patriots would weigh all their options before committing to play the remainder of the season without Thomas, one of the defense's most valuable players.

Coach Bill Belichick said he had no update on Thomas's status.

Cornerback Terrence Wheatley (left wrist) was also ruled out for tonight.

Morris may be back

The Patriots could get a boost at running back tonight if Sammy Morris is able to go.

Morris, who has been out since suffering a knee injury against the Broncos Oct. 20, practiced for the second straight day - he had limited participation - and was listed as questionable on the injury report yesterday.

Morris was one of four Patriots listed as questionable. He was joined by defensive end Ty Warren (groin), right guard Stephen Neal (knee), and linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring). Both running back LaMont Jordan (right calf) and cornerback Lewis Sanders (hamstring) were listed as doubtful after not practicing this week.

The Jets will be without inside linebacker and leading tackler David Harris. The team declared Harris, who will miss his third straight game with a groin injury, out for tonight's game. David Bowens has started the last two games in place of Harris.

Both Jets starting wide receivers, Laveranues Coles (thigh) and Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) were listed as probable.

Brady hanging around

Both Belichick and Matt Cassel said it's good to have quarterback Tom Brady, who is back in Foxborough working out as he tries to come back from surgery to repair torn ligaments (ACL and MCL) in his left knee, around the team.

"It's been good. He's in there getting rehab. He's getting better and everybody's hoping the best for him," said Cassel. "It's great to have him back around the locker room. He's obviously a great leader, and he's always there for support for myself and our other teammates as well."

Cassel said Brady is not taking part in the team's meetings, but he has been around for Cassel to bounce questions off or just talk.

A different Favre

The Patriots will see a Brett Favre tonight who is a lot more comfortable in the Jets' offense than the one they faced in a 19-10 Patriots win in Week 2.

Part of that could be because the Jets have adapted the playbook for Favre. Linebacker Mike Vrabel mentioned earlier in the week that the Jets have toned down parts of the offense, like the frequency of shifting and motioning.

One thing that hasn't changed is that Favre will still force defenses to defend the whole field.

"You can see he's a little more comfortable back there with the offense," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

"We had some plays with him in the first game where he was running one way, and he threw it all the way across the other side of the field.

"That's something that we always expect of Brett, and . . . we expect more of the same."

Those throws test a defense, but they can also reward it. Favre's 12 interceptions are tops in the NFL.

Law always ready

Bruschi said that former teammate Ty Law, who signed with the Jets this week, is the kind of guy who could come off the street and play 10 or 15 snaps. "He's always been a guy that you tell him what to do and he can get it done, so depending on workouts or whatever and if he's been keeping up in shape, I'm sure that mentally he's able to handle it all," said Bruschi . . . The Jets rank second in the NFL in sacks with 31. That's two more sacks than they had all of last season. The Patriots have allowed just one sack in their last two games . . . Tonight is "Troy Brown Night" at Gillette, as the Patriots will salute Brown at halftime.