Patriots SS Patrick Chung (thumb), DT Albert Haynesworth (back), and WR Taylor Price (hamstring) have been ruled out for Week 3.

Backup safety Josh Barrett will replace Chung against Buffalo's No. 1 scoring offense, and the loss of Haynesworth will create some depth issues along an already depleted defensive line. All together, this presents a slight upgrade for Bills skill position players in a game that was already projected to be a shootout.

Patriots SS Pat Chung made a surprising return to practice Friday after undergoing thumb surgery this week.

Sporting a cast on his right hand, Chung responded, "I am keeping it low" when asked if he has a shot to play this week. Backup safety Josh Barrett told the Boston Globe that he's "confident" Chung will end up playing against the Bills this week. Check back later in the day for an update.

The Boston Herald's Ian Rapoport reports Patriots SS Pat Chung (thumb surgery) is out for Week 3.

It's bad news for a Patriots' pass defense coming off two straight shaky performances and tasked with slowing down a red-hot Ryan Fitzpatrick this weekend. It will also test their depth less than one month after their surprising release of SS Brandon Meriweather. Chung played through the injury for nearly a quarter in Week 2, so it's hard to believe his absence will last any longer than a week. Sergio Brown should get the start in his place against the Bills.

Patriots SS Pat Chung underwent surgery Wednesday to repair his right thumb.

ESPN Boston calls Chung's status "uncertain" for Week 3. Chung left last week's game with the third-quarter injury, but was able to return in the fourth. We suspect he will still start against the Bills, perhaps with a cast on his hand. Through two games, Chung has 14 tackles (13 solo), one sack, and a pass breakup. He'll lose some INT potential due to the injury.

A habitually reticent coach Bill Belichick had high praise for SS Pat Chung and his improvement Tuesday.

"I mean, you really can't outwork Chung - he's here early, he stays late. He's in top condition," said Belichick. "He can play all the plays that he needs to play. He's been very productive for us in the kicking game [and] defensively. I think there's still room to grow with him, but he works hard at it. He's had a good camp."

Comcast Sports New England considered SS Pat Chung "clearly" the Patriots' best safety in 2010.

Chung was a dynamo on defense and special teams aside from a botched fake-punt call in the Divisional Round loss to the Jets. ESPN's Mike Reiss believes Chung can be a "top safety" in the NFL, while Tedy Bruschi has likened him to Lawyer Milloy. He'll be one of the first DBs off the board in 2011 IDP drafts.

Patriots SS Pat Chung went from playing just 20 percent of the defensive snaps in 2009 to 70 percent in 2010.

ESPN's Tedy Bruschi likens Chung to Lawyer Milloy, and ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss believes the 2009 second-round pick "has the potential to be a top safety." Despite missing two weeks due to a knee injury, Chung racked up at least five tackles in 11 games in 2010, also picking off three passes with a 51-yard pick six. He'll be a top-five IDP safety pick in 2011.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung accepted "full responsibility" for the fake punt call that turned out to be a pivotal play in his team's Divisional Round loss to the Jets.

"That's part of the game. It's all on me," said Chung. "Not Bill [Belichick], not Scotty O [special teams coach Scott O'Brien], none of them, I take full responsibility ... so leave Bill alone. Leave Scotty O. alone. I'll take responsibility. Blame me." The gaffe overshadows a strong second season for Chung, who has the look of a future Pro Bowler in the Pats' secondary.

Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko revealed that SS Patrick Chung made the call to go for a fake punt late in the second quarter.

Chung presumably has the green light from coach Bill Belichick to option into the fake. The call was fine but the execution was off, as Chung failed to field the snap cleanly. Newsday's Tom Rock created a minor stir with the sarcastically challenged crowd when he jokingly tweeted that "former Patriot" Chung was the responsible party. "We just made a bad mistake," Belichick said when asked about the pivotal play after the game.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung left in the fourth quarter Sunday night after appearing to re-injure his knee.

Chung was having a heck of a game before getting hurt, showing no limitations with the knee. It's not clear at this point how serious the aggravation is. Stay tuned.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung is active for Sunday Night Football at Pittsburgh.

The Steelers may go run heavy after losing LT Max Starks for the season, so Chung is an elite fantasy play in his return. Inactive for the Pats: RB Fred Taylor, S Jarrad Page, DL Myron Pryor, RG Stephen Neal, CB Darius Butler, OL Mark LeVoir, OL Rich Ohrnberger, and rookie WR Taylor Price.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) appears poised to return to the lineup in Week 10.

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss is reading the tea leaves here based on a conversation he had with Chung, so it's not a given he'll play, but things are looking good. "[Knee] feels way better, a lot better," Chung said. Chung has been an IDP stud so far in his second season.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out for Week 9 at Cleveland.

Chung, who will be missed dearly by IDP owners for a second straight week, injured his knee against the Chargers in Week 7. His backup, Jarrad Page (calf), is also out, leaving James Sanders to slide over from free safety to start against the Browns, who are riding the momentum of an improbable upset in New Orleans last week.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) returned to practice Thursday.

He's on track to start against the Vikings this week.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) was seen getting ready for practice Thursday.

Signs continue to point to Chung being ready to play this weekend, but it's not set in stone. James Sanders would start against the Vikings if Chung can't go.

When asked how he was feeling Wednesday, Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) gave a thumbs up and said he was "feeling great."

Chung is also reportedly walking around with no limp. It's a good sign for his chances at playing in Week 8, but we should know more about his status later this week.

Coach Bill Belichick refused to predict whether SS Patrick Chung's knee injury will keep him out this week.

"We'll see where we're at tomorrow, who's practicing and who isn't," said Belichick. "We'll see how it goes, I don't want to make any predictions." Belichick didn't deny the injury, which makes us think that Chung is in danger of missing this week's game against the Vikes.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) is expected to miss 1-2 weeks of action, according to 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zolak.

Take this report with a grain of salt, as it's an unlikely source to break news. We should know later this week how much time Chung will miss, though coach Bill Belichick will surely be predictably vague.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung (knee) did not give a real update on his status following Sunday's win over the Chargers.

Chung left in the second quarter and did not return. In typical Patriots fashion, we likely won't know anything about his status until the practice reports come out Wednesday. James Sanders will start against the Vikings if Chung can't go.

Patriots SS Patrick Chung had a blocked punt, blocked field goal, interception returned for a touchdown, and four solo tackles.

Chung's special teams play led to 21 Patriots' points, and he solidified his standing as monster IDP player. The second year safety looks to be headed for stardom.