Tom Brady canceled his press conference Wednesday afternoon due to a medical issue he needed to address.

Canceled Patriots Press Conference News

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the New England Patriots quarterback’s issue wasn’t anything severe.

A pack of reporters arrived at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is reportedly not the first time Brady has rescheduled a news conference this season. The 40-year-old QB was present at practice earlier in the day. He has battled shoulder and Achilles injuries this season, but was removed from the Patriots’ injury report ahead of their Week 17 game against the New York Jets. Per some reports, Brady said he would speak to reporters again on Friday.

Brady reportedly jammed his right (throwing) hand at practice Wednesday after a teammate accidentally ran into him. However, X-Rays revealed no structural damage.

The Patriots still have no plans to re-activate second-year wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell for Sunday’s game. Mitchell has been sidelined nearly all season with knee issues.

New England also listed defensive lineman Alan Branch (knee) and running backs Rex Burkhead (knee) and Mike Gillislee (knee) as limited participants.

FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to throw a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Malcolm Mitchell was one of three New England Patriots players to return to practice Thursday after missing sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Patriots players returning to practice news

Besides second-year wide receiver Mitchell, running back Mike Gillislee (both knee injuries) and linebacker Marquis Flowers (illness) were also back.

The Patriots thus boasted perfect attendance for their final practice before Saturday night’s Divisional Round home matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Mitchell spent the entire season on injured reserve, and took the practice field for the first time during Week 17. However, he has yet to be activated to the team’s roster.

The Patriots defeated the New York Jets 26-6 on Dec. 31, while the Titans are coming off a 22-21 Wild Card victory over Kansas City.

New England has been making several headlines in recent days, amid reports of a rift between the franchise’s leaders and speculation that either the team’s defensive coordinator Matt Patricia or its defensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could leave to become head coach of the hopeless New York Giants.

Tensions always run especially high in the NFL during the postseason, and this time it was between Jacksonville and Buffalo.

Richie Incognito racial slurs news

Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue jumped on Twitter Sunday night to seemingly accuse Bills guard Richie Incognito of using racial slurs during Sunday’s Wild Card playoff game.

Ngakoue didn’t use Incognito’s name, but instead chose to use his number (64), and ended his tweet with the hashtag #Iaintjonathanmartin in reference to the bullying scandal involving former NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Martin that got Incognito suspended by the Miami Dolphins in 2013. The Jaguars star said he was “proud” of his African heritage, and that most of the other black players in the league are too.

Incognito, 34, spent a year away from the NFL after that bullying incident but has since enjoyed a successful career with the Bills.

The Jaguars defeated the Bills 10-3 Sunday to advance to the Divisional Playoff round, where they will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Jacksonville clinched the AFC South after finishing the season 11-6.

Incidents of racism in sports have been prevalent in recent months, although more have occurred in other leagues like MLB. Boston Red Sox fans last year laced racial epithets and threw objects at Baltimore’s Adam Jones during a game against the Orioles at Fenway Park, a move that prompted a swift response from the Red Sox and from Boston city officials.

Seth Wickersham of ESPN published a report early Friday morning about tensions within the New England Patriots organization that could signal the end of the franchise’s long-standing leadership group, although the team’s veteran three leading figures have dispelled these rumors.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick rift reports

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady issued a joint statement to affirm that their relationship with each other and with the rest of the organization is solid.

“For the past 18 years, the three of us have enjoyed a very good and productive working relationship,” the statement read. “In recent days, there have been multiple media reports that have speculated theories that are unsubstantiated, highly exaggerated or flat out inaccurate. The three of us share a common goal. We look forward to the enormous challenge of competing in the postseason and the opportunity to work together in the future, just as we have for the past 18 years. It is unfortunate that there is even a need for us to respond to these fallacies. As our actions have shown, we stand united.”

The Patriots clinched the AFC East title this season after finishing 13-3 and winning their final three games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

New England is now preparing for the divisional round of the playoffs, where it will face either Buffalo (if they win) or the winner of Kansas City vs. Tennessee. The Chiefs will host the Titans on Saturday.

Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch first revealed that ESPN would publish the story on Friday and that it would describe a “power struggle” between Brady, Kraft and Belichick over who deserved the most credit for building the Patriots into a dynasty since they began working together in 2000.

“Source: ESPN readying new hit piece on Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft set to publish tomorrow morning at 8am,” Allen wrote on Twitter. “The topic will be a power struggle among the trio as to who deserves the most credit for the dynasty.”

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk also confirmed ESPN was set to release the bombshell report.

Allen also reported that the ESPN story would say Brady went to Kraft to force Belichick to trade Brady’s heir apparent, Jimmy Garoppolo, who was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers before the trade deadline in October.

Florio, however, said the piece would not state this.

In his piece, Wickersham details an incident that allegedly occurred on Dec. 3, when the Patriots played the Bills.

“Tom Brady walked to the sideline after throwing late and behind receiver Brandin Cooks on third down, ending a first-quarter drive. Brady was angrier and more irritable than usual, as has often been the case this season in the eyes of some Patriots players and staff. As he unsnapped his chinstrap, Brady passed offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on the sideline.

‘He was wide open,’ McDaniels said to Brady, referring to Cooks.

Brady kept walking, and glaring at McDaniels, so the coach repeated: ‘We had him open.’

Brady snapped, pivoting to McDaniels and yelling at him, ‘I got it!’ Everyone within earshot, including head coach Bill Belichick, turned to watch as Brady screamed. He removed his helmet, and as a Patriots staffer held him back — and with McDaniels’ father and legendary high school coach in Ohio, Thom, in the stands behind the bench — capped off the exchange by yelling, ‘F— you!'”

Wickersham went on to say video of the altercation “went viral.” Brady then reportedly apologized to McDaniels.

FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to throw a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)