WR Danny Amendola active for Patriots

lee/globe staff Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo pounces on the loose ball after teammate Devin McCourty forced Bengals running back Giovani Bernard to fumble. By Michael Whitmer / Globe Staff/ October 6, 2013 Buy reprints From the second he came sprinting onto Paul Brown Stadium two hours before Sundays kickoff, Danny Amendola had the look of someone who was physically ready to play. Amendola had missed the Patriots three previous games after suffering a groin injury in the season-opening win at Buffalo. But the veteran receiver had consistently practiced, and said Friday that he was looking forward to Sunday, prompting speculation that hed be active. He was, and was targeted a team-high nine times by Tom Brady. Amendola caught four of those nine passes for 55 yards. It came in a losing effort the Bengals held the Patriots without a touchdown in a 13-6 win but Amendola showed no signs of the injury that caused him to miss three games. Full story for BostonGlobe.com subscribers. Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com .

Danny Amendola eager to get everyone healthy

Gronkowski, who was limited in practice all week, has yet to play this season after a series of surgeries on his fractured forearm and ailing back. Amendola returned to action last week after missing three games with a groin injury. The Texas Tech product has caught 14 passes for 159 yards in two games this season. Ridley missed last Sunday’s Danny Amendola Nike Youth Jersey game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to knee and thigh injuries. The LSU product has carried the ball 47 times for 174 yards in four games this season. Veteran defensive tackle Tommy Kelly (knee) and running back Leon Washington (ankle) have been ruled out.

#patriotstalk Gary Tanguay (@Gary_Tanguay) October 5, 2013 Danny Amendola heading to airport with the Patriots to fly to Cincy. #patriotstalk Gary… Report: Patriots remain highly optimistic Danny Amendola will play We mentioned on Friday that the Patriots are more optimistic that Danny Amendola will play on Sunday then Rob Gronkowski. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, the Patriots remain highly optimistic that Amendola will play. Right now, the Patriots remain highly optimistic about Amendola, highly pessimistic about Gronkowski for tomorrow’s game. Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe… Patriots more optimistic about Amendola than Gronk According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, the Patriots are more optimistic that Danny Amendola will play this week than Rob Gronkowski. Per source, Gronk still not a sure bet for Sunday. More optimism about Danny Amendola playing.

Danny Amendola limited again in Thursday’s practice, but fantasy owners can anticipate a bounce back

Sign up now! Danny Amendola has quiet return for Patriots, fantasy owners Gear Up! Daniel Kelley, SBNation Posted: Monday, October 7, 2013, 5:10 AM New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola made his return to game action Sunday after missing the team’s last three games. He was held to 55 yards and no scores on four receptions as the team fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 13-6. Amendola left Week 1 with a groin injury and has been a question mark ever since. He led the Patriots in targets Sunday with nine, but caught only four of them. Fantasy impact: Most of Sunday’s game came in a downpour, negatively affecting both quarterback Tom Brady’s passing ability and the production of his pass-catchers. Combining that with the fact that a still-not-entirely-healthy Amendola played only (unofficially) 38 of 64 snaps , per ESPN NFL Nation reporter Mike Reiss, and it stands to reason that Amendola’s numbers should rise as he gets healthier and the team’s games come in better weather. Fantasy owners had to use a fairly high draft pick on the perennially banged-up Amendola, and that has been a frustrating investment so far.

Amendola, who has practiced on a limited basis since initially suffering the injury, was listed as questionable leading up to today’s game, but will give it a go. Amendola Signed as a free agent this offseason, Amendola immediately emerged as the team’s top receiver throughout the preseason and finished with 10 catches for 104 yards in his regular-season debut with the team. During his absence, veteran wideout Julian Edelman emerged as the team’s top replacement, as he is currently tied for the NFL lead in catches with 34 while working out of the slot for the Patriots. While Amendola will return today, the Patriots will once again be without tight end Rob Gronkowski , who did not travel with the team to Cincinnati as he continues to recover from both back and forearm injuries. The Patriots released rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld on Thursday, leaving them with just two healthy tight ends entering Sunday’s game: Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan . One advantage the Patriots’ passing game will have on Sunday is going against a beat-up Bengals secondary, as standout cornerback Leon Hall (hamstring) was declared inactive, as were cornerbacks Brandon Ghee and Dre Kirkpatrick .

DANNY AMENDOLA RUMORS

“Thats the goal, without a doubt,” the wide receiver said after Wednesday’s practice. “Were out there practicing and running around, trying to get on the same page, regardless of who it is, and well be ready to go when our number is called, for sure.” Still missing from the offense are tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Shane Vereen. Gronkowski (back/forearm) could be back this Sunday against unbeaten New Orleans; Vereen (wrist) is on the injured reserve list with a designation to return, and can come back no sooner than the Nov. 18 game at Carolina. Amendola caught four passes against the Bengals, but the Patriots struggled on offense, failing to score a touchdown for the first time since 2009. Asked for a health update, Amendola sounded positive. “I feel good,” he said. “I had a good day today, and Im just preparing this week, getting ready to go for next Sunday.

Danny Amendola has quiet return for Patriots, fantasy owners

10, 2013 Danny Amendola limited again in Thursday’s practice, but fantasy owners can anticipate a bounce back Related Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola remained limited in practice on Thursday . This is the second straight day that Amendola has practiced at a limited basis, although this is to be expected as he works his way back from a groin injury that sidelined him for three weeks. His diminished practice reps can more so be attributed to the Patriots keeping him fresh as opposed to any indication that Amendola is in danger of missing more time. Fantasy Spin: During a rain-soaked game versus the Bengals last week, Amendola, as well as everybody else on the playing field, did not stand much of a chance of putting up robust fantasy numbers. It was Amendola’s first game back since Week 1, and the Patriots managed his reps, getting him in just 39 of the team’s 63 snaps. Despite that, he still led the way with nine targets and 55 receiving yards.