Patriots starting left tackle Trent Brown and cornerback J.C. Jackson were listed on the team’s injury report prior to the bye with “personal matters.”

Brown and Jackson, both of whom missed the Patriots’ trip to Germany in Week 10 but were present at practice Tuesday, explained to reporters in the locker room why they were recently absent.

Brown’s personal matter was a death in his family, he told MassLive’s Mark Daniels. But he said he wasn’t going to play in Week 10 anyway because he was dealing with a sprained MCL and low and high ankle sprains. Head coach Bill Belichick said in Germany that the personal matter and injury kept Brown away from the team.

Related Articles

Patriots QB Will Grier shares mentality if he gets called on to play

Mac Jones gets good news at first Patriots practice after bye week

Bill Belichick helping to fill void in Patriots assistant coach’s absence

Bill Belichick explains why Patriots QB Will Grier took first-team reps in practice

Bill Belichick suggests Patriots won’t name starting quarterback until Sunday

MMQB’s Albert Breer reported last Sunday that Brown is “habitually late.” Brown disputed the accusation.

“That’s (expletive). It’s a bunch of (expletive). I’m never late. Honestly. I’m one of the first ones in and one of the last ones out of the building,” Brown told MassLive. “If I am late to any meetings or anything, it’s because I’m a grown man and I should be allowed to go to the bathroom. Especially if it’s in between meetings and I’m trying to (go to the bathroom) or if I’m trying to grab something from the training room to be healthier and prepare for practice. It’s a lot of (expletive).

“I’m sure you’re not really used to reporting about losing seasons around here, but that’s the type of (expletive) rhetoric that comes to play. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all season I’ve been the best player on offense and then when I’m not playing, that (expletive) starts happening.”

Jackson admitted to a report that he missed curfew to the Patriots’ team hotel prior to Week 9, when he was benched for the first two defensive series against the Commanders. Jackson then didn’t practice ahead of Week 10 or make the trip to Frankfurt, Germany.

“I was kind of late to bed check. They checked my room. I wasn’t there at the time,” Jackson told MassLive. “That’s what it was. It was nothing major. I wasn’t out that night doing anything stupid. It was just I wasn’t where I was supposed to be on time. Little mistakes, man. I’m a professional I know better than that. I’ve been around. I’ve never missed a bed check. Things happen. If I knew what that was going to cause, I would have never done it.”

Extra points

Patriots players felt refreshed after last week’s bye. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai traveled to Disney World. Tight end Hunter Henry went to New York to see “Hamilton” with his wife. And Andrews stayed in the area, hunted and spent time with his wife and son. “Try to be dad of the year in two days,” he joked … Veteran offensive lineman Riley Reiff remains on injured reserve after returning to practice last week. Belichick is unsure if he’ll be activated this week: “I don’t know. We started practicing him last week, so he is eligible. We’ll see how it goes.” … Cornerback J.C. Jackson confirmed to MassLive he was left home in Week 10 while the rest of the Patriots traveled to Germany because he missed bed check at the team’s hotel in Week 9 … Safety Jabrill Peppers underwent an X-ray after practice Tuesday after injuring his hand. Tests came back negative.