Patriots Notebook

Wilfork upbeat after injuring ankle

By Christopher L. Gasper

Globe Staff / September 28, 2009

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FOXBOROUGH - Already without middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, the Patriots had a hole in the interior of their defense. It got bigger with the loss of nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who left yesterday’s 26-10 win over the Falcons in the second quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

Fellow defensive lineman Mike Wright said he talked to Wilfork after the game and that Wilfork was in good spirits.

“As good as can be for being hurt,’’ said Wright. “He’s very disappointed I’m sure. Anyone would be. He’s a fighter, and he’ll be back.’’

Wright, who said he was fine after being shaken up with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, said he rolled up on Wilfork’s ankle. Wright said he was manning the nose, next to Wilfork, and got pushed over too far on a double-team block and ended up catching Wilfork’s ankle.

“It was my responsibility that he got hurt, so it was hard to keep playing because it was in the back of my head,’’ said Wright, who teamed with rookie Myron Pryor to fill in for Wilfork. “I tried my best to put it out of my mind, but when something like that happens I just can’t stop thinking about it. But it’s behind us, and I talked to him, and we move on to next week. All I can do is get better and fix the problem.’’

Wright said he has to do a better job of handling double teams.

“I was on the nose and I got banged over, got banged over way too far and rolled on his ankle, so that’s what happened,’’ said Wright. “There were a couple of other times where I just didn’t play the doubles very well, and they got the best of me. So it’s hard to take it, but I’ve got to and get better from it.’’

Wright liked what he saw from Pryor, who finished with three tackles. “He showed in preseason that he’s going to be a big contributor for us throughout the rest of the season,’’ said Wright.

Always on the go

Coach Bill Belichick showed a lot of faith in his offense when he decided to go for it on fourth and 1 from his 24 with a 6-point lead in the third quarter. Sammy Morris picked up the first down. Belichick went for it again on the same drive, on fourth and 3 from the Falcons’ 37. The Patriots picked it up when Tom Brady found Randy Moss, the first of two fourth downs the duo picked up.

“I felt like we could get a yard,’’ said Belichick. “I’m sure there would have been plenty of criticism if we didn’t, but we were able to get that and basically hold on to the ball for the rest of the third quarter. The other fourth down we were right on the edge of field goal range. It would have been a long field goal, so I felt like we had a pretty decent chance to pick that up.’’

Center Dan Koppen said the Patriots spent extra time working on short yardage last week. In all the Patriots, who entered yesterday’s game 0 for 3 on fourth down this season, were 3 for 3 yesterday.

“Yeah, you don’t see that very often, but Bill saw that good things were happening out there,’’ said guard Logan Mankins. “I’m sure glad we didn’t disappoint him. Those are tough situations in games. That can turn the game either way. If we had screwed that one up it would have electrified the other team, and we would have been hanging our heads.’’

Baker cooking

Chris Baker’s 36-yard touchdown catch was not only his first score as a Patriot but also his first since November 2007, when he made a 1-yard scoring grab in the first quarter of the Jets overtime win against Pittsburgh.

Baker entered the game with two catches for 8 yards. He caught two yesterday for 42 yards and the touchdown, a play Baker said he might not have had the instincts to make a couple of years ago.

Brady, who spent extra time in training camp getting on the same page with Baker, targeted the tight end three times yesterday.

“He’s a threat out there for us,’’ Brady said. “So getting him involved like we did today - and Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor - were some nice positives for us.’’

Maroney hurt

Running back Laurence Maroney left the game in the first half with a thigh injury. He had four carries for 17 yards. After the game, Maroney was walking through the locker room. When asked if he was good, he said, “Yeah.’’

With Maroney out and BenJarvus Green-Ellis inactive, the Patriots were down to just three healthy running backs, Taylor, Kevin Faulk, and Morris, who opened the game at fullback.

Morris entered yesterday with just three touches all season; he had three on the Patriots’ first drive of the game, including a 19-yard reception. Morris finished with five carries for 16 yards and had three receptions for 46 yards.

“I’m always ready,’’ said Morris.

Morris, who was the Patriots’ leading rusher last season, said he’s fine with playing fullback.

“I was actually drafted as a fullback and signed to Miami as a fullback,’’ said Morris. “It’s something I’m used to, well I wouldn’t say I’m used to, but it’s something I think can help our offense with.’’

Welker sits out

For the second straight week the Patriots were without wide receiver Wes Welker (knee). Welker did not practice on Friday and had been listed as questionable for the game.

The other inactives were Green-Ellis, Mayo, linebacker Prescott Burgess, guards Kendall Simmons and Rich Ohrnberger and cornerbacks Darius Butler (thigh) and Jonathan Wilhite.

Wilhite was not on the injury report all week and his surprising unavailability left the Patriots with just three healthy cornerbacks - Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden, and Terrence Wheatley. Belichick said Wilhite suffered the injury yesterday morning.

The secondary held Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to 17 of 28 for 199 yards and no touchdowns.

A real challenge

The Falcons were the only ones to get a reverse call from one of three video replay challenges yesterday. Falcons coach Mike Smith tossed the red flag in the second quarter after Brandon McGowan hit Ryan on a clear forward pass. Springs recovered the ball and returned it for a 70-yard touchdown.

But the play was overturned and the TD wiped out after officials correctly ruled it was an incomplete pass, allowing the Falcons to keep possession. Later in that same drive, Belichick challenged a 21-yard pass to Michael Jenkins. The play stood and on the next play, Michael Turner rushed in for the 2-yard touchdown that led to a 10-10 tie with 8:48 to go in the second quarter.

Smith didn’t get his last challenge of the day, when his team came up with the ball after a Morris fumble in the third quarter. Morris was ruled down by contact.

No pals of Joey

It was another tough day for Joey Galloway, who had two catches for 14 yards. On the Patriots’ first drive, Brady hit Galloway along the back of the end zone on first and goal from the Atlanta 7, but Galloway failed to get his feet down. Galloway also dropped a pass late in the first half in the red zone and then was showered with boos. He received a mock cheer when he caught an 8-yard pass in the third quarter . . . Safety/special teams ace Matthew Slater returned to the field after missing the first two games of the season because of a left elbow injury he suffered in the final exhibition game. Slater was on the field for punt return and punt coverage . . . Tight end Michael Matthews was active for the first time since joining the Patriots. He was part of three tight-end sets and also lined up in the backfield . . . Yesterday was the 400th win in franchise history . . . The Falcons became the 30th team to visit Gillette Stadium; only the Panthers, who come to Gillette Dec. 13 have not played there. The Patriots improved to 26-4 against first-time visitors to Gillette . . . The Patriots did not allow a sack. They have allowed just one sack in 142 pass attempts.

Monique Walker and Julian Benbow of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.