Patriots notebook

Brady pulls an all-nighter

He welcomes son, reports for duty

As a team leader, Tom Brady hopes to point the Patriots in the winning direction. (Steven Senne/Associated Press)

By Monique Walker

Globe Staff / December 10, 2009

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FOXBOROUGH - Tom Brady welcomed his baby boy Tuesday, and a few hours later was at Gillette Stadium preparing for Sunday’s game against Carolina.

The turnaround didn’t surprise his teammates.

“That’s just Tom,’’ said Kevin Faulk. “I guess they had an agreement, and he’s at work.’’

Brady was around early yesterday but did not practice. He was listed on the injury report (right shoulder, right finger). It was the first practice he has missed this season.

With the excitement surrounding the birth of his second child, Brady said he owed it to his teammates “to really be focused on what I need to do for this team.’’ The Patriots have lost three of their last four games and have a one-game lead to protect in the AFC East.

“As a captain and a leader of this team, the last thing that they need from me is to be really not focused on the job at hand,’’ Brady said. “There are plenty of things for me to be doing here this week.’’

Brady also gave a small update on his finger, which was the subject of much discussion before last Sunday’s loss to Miami. “It’s hanging in there,’’ he said.

Brady completed 19 of 29 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns against the Dolphins, but he also threw a pair of interceptions.

On the Patriots’ first possession, Brady launched a 58-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss, not showing any ill effects from his finger injury. In planning for last Sunday’s game, coach Bill Belichick said there weren’t many adjustments needed to account for Brady’s finger.

“We didn’t change much,’’ Belichick said. “You saw the first drive of that game. The plays we had, we ran. There weren’t really any changes.’’

Lockett placed on IR

Defensive back Bret Lockett was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury, and defensive lineman Titus Adams was signed from the practice squad. Quarterback Jeff Rowe and wide receiver Darnell Jenkins were added to the practice squad.

Adams, who has been with the Patriots since 2008, was originally drafted by the Jets in the seventh round of the 2006 draft out of Nebraska.

Rowe, who is 6 feet 5 inches and 221 pounds, played at Nevada and was drafted in the fifth round by the Bengals in 2007. He was the third quarterback with the Bengals in 2007, but was signed to the Seahawks’ 53-man roster in December 2008. He was waived by Seattle prior to this season.

Jenkins, 5-10, 191 pounds, played at the University of Miami and was signed as a rookie free agent by Houston last year. He was moved to the Texans’ active roster for the final two games, but was waived after training camp this year.

Among the missing

Other players who missed yesterday’s practice because of injuries were Fred Taylor (ankle), Myron Pryor (chest), and Ty Warren (ankle).

Offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer was back at practice after missing the last two games with a head injury.

Weather or not

The miserable weather conditions might have provided an ideal opportunity for the Patriots to practice in the elements with two games left at Gillette Stadium and one in Buffalo. Belichick instead opted to practice inside the Dana-Farber Field House.

“I don’t think that we’ll get this on Sunday,’’ Belichick said of the weather. “I’m sure it’s not going to be balmy, but I think we need a good day of timing and execution, so we’ll try to get that inside.’’

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.