"At 3:53 p.m. yesterday, the sound you heard across New England was a sigh of relief.

Quarterback Tom Brady was listed on the Patriots' participation report as probable, meaning there's a virtual certainty he will play tomorrow in the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium.

Brady was limited this week in practice, thanks to a left shoulder he injured late in last Saturday's win against the Dolphins. But the ailment should not prevent him from being on the field to help the Pats gain the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC with a victory.

"Absolutely," receiver Wes Welker said when asked if Brady will play. "This is for a No. 1 seed, fellas. We're going out there and giving everything we got for four quarters."

The saga surrounding Brady's left, non-throwing shoulder began a week ago, when he was spotted having difficulty putting on his shirt after the Miami game. He reportedly had X-rays done but was told the injury was not major.

The NFL Network reported Brady's shoulder is "sprained" but that playing through it does not risk further injury.

Brady walked through the locker room after practice yesterday, looking unencumbered.

Meanwhile, coach Bill Belichick was mostly mum about Brady's ailment. He was asked what the QB did at practice Thursday.

"Play quarterback — the usual thing," Belichick said."