Brady suffered a laceration to his right thumb prior to Thursday's preseason contest against the Bears, which accounts for his absence, CSN New England reports.

EDGE Analysis

After it leaked that Brady would play Thursday, he was surprisingly absent from pregame warmups and included among the DNPs for the game. He suffered the cut during an attempt to pry something from his cleats. The severity of the injury is unclear, but the Pats may very well hold him out of the final two exhibitions in order to preserve his health. If the preceding comes to pass, he won't suit up until Week 5 of the regular season due to his impending four-game suspension.