Sprained wrist slows Taylor

Taylor hurt the wrist when he fell on his outstretched left hand. It appears the injury occurred while he was working out on his own in South Florida and not at Gillette Stadium under the team's supervision.

Taylor, who signed a two-year, $5 million deal to join the Patriots in February, sought treatment April 24, complaining of pain for two days.

An MRI did not reveal any fractures, dislocations, or ligament damage, and the initial diagnosis of a sprain was confirmed.

Taylor was told to put the wrist in a Velcro splint, rest it, and ice it. Last Monday, doctors told Taylor that he gradually could ramp up his activity over the following two or three weeks. The injury has affected Taylor's ability to lift weights, as that activity, in particular, aggravates the wrist.

It is not known whether the injury will prevent Taylor from participating in the start of the Patriots' organized team activities this month. The first session runs from May 18-20.

Taylor told the Globe in mid-April, before the injury, that he was training in South Florida and was planning on joining the Patriots' offseason program this month and participating in the OTAs.

"I'll be joining the team May 11," Taylor said then. "That's a week prior to the rookie passing camp, so I can kind of get with the coaches, get in the strength and conditioning program, and be around the guys for a week, learn the system for a bit."

Jason Rosenhaus of Rosenhaus Sports Representation, which represents Taylor, said yesterday that neither he nor his brother, Drew, had any comment on Taylor's status.

Taylor, 33, who is entering his 12th NFL season, has a lengthy injury history, but not with the wrist.

The Patriots signed eight players yesterday, including veteran linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, a Boston College product. Ciurciu has played seven NFL seasons, the last two with the Vikings, and is a special teams standout.

The Patriots also brought back wide receiver Robert Ortiz, inked running back Omar Cuff, who spent time on the practice squads of the Browns, Seahawks, and Buccaneers last season, and signed defensive lineman Steve Williams.

They signed four undrafted rookie free agents, three from Navy - wide receivers Tyree Barnes and Shun White and running back Eric Kettani - and UCLA punter Aaron Perez.

The company that built the Dallas Cowboys' wind-flattened practice facility - Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, Pa. - lists on its website several other facilities it built, including one for the Patriots.

Stacey James, executive director of media relations, said in an e-mail to the Associated Press the Patriots are "reviewing all aspects of the facility."

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.