Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was officially listed as limited because he remains in the NFL's concussion protocol but was in pads Wednesday for the team’s first practice of Super Bowl week in Minnesota, according to the AFC pool report .


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“We red-jerseyed him today, so he’s working his way back,” coach Bill Belichick said of Gronkowski's Wednesday work.

Gronkowski, who suffered the head injury in the AFC championship on Jan. 21, did not speak to the media Wednesday afternoon, per protocol guidelines.

However, on Tuesday, at an event not governed by the protocol, he said that he's " feeling good " and is confident he'll be cleared to play Sunday against the Eagles, though he had hoped he would get the green light Wednesday. He didn't.

"We'll see how it goes and what the doctors say," Gronkowski said Tuesday. "I'm not the guy to say I'm out of the protocol. That is the doctor's call."

Also in Wednesday's pool report from the Pats' two-hour practice:

— Quarterback Tom Brady, wearing only black tape on his injured right (throwing) hand, practiced in full and led the offense through passing and red-zone drills to start, then situational 11-on-11 football.

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— Defensive tackle Malcom Brown and defensive end Deatrich Wise were also limited during the practice.

The Patriots return to the Vikings’ facility for a 12:30 p.m. CT practice Thursday and will have two more daily sessions before Sunday’s game.

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