Wilfork upbeat after injuring ankle

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.



(boston.com)