Wilfork, Welker a go -- but not Galloway

Wes Welker and Vince Wilfork, both listed as questionable for today's game against the Baltimore Ravens, have been listed as active and presumably will play. With both players being veterans of the Patriots' system, it doesn't seem as though they'd have missed much by being limited in practice and thus ought to be able to contribute quite a bit today.

Among the inactives:

* Ron Brace. It was telling a week ago, when Wilfork went down, that Myron Pryor received the bulk of the playing time over second-round draft pick Ron Brace. It's telling now that the Patriots have activated new acquisition Terdell Sands, who wasn't with a team in September and who just signed with the team on Monday, ahead of Brace.

* Joey Galloway. The veteran of 14 NFL seasons had five catches against the Jets and two more against the Falcons -- but a healthy scratch today seems to imply he's not up to speed within the Patriots' offense. Not dressing Galloway means the Patriots will go with five wide receivers -- but Sam Aiken and Matthew Slater tend to be more significant contributors on special teams than at wide receiver.

* Jerod Mayo. No surprise. You have to wonder if his appearance at practice on Friday was a real sign of progress or a matter of gamesmanship.

* Kendall Simmons. The eighth-year guard missed most of last season with an Achilles' tendon injury but has not been listed on the injury report this season. He started every game in which he appeared in his seven years with the Steelers and signed a three-year deal with the Patriots in early September, but he hasn't yet appeared in a game. The Patriots certainly have entrenched stalwarts at guard in Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal, but it's interesting that he hasn't yet cracked the game-day 45.

* Terrence Wheatley. The second-round pick a year ago was active for the first time a week ago and even drew praise from Bill Belichick for his part in containing Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez. But with Jonathan Wilhite is back to full speed and rookies Darius Butler and Patrick Chung continuing to impress, there's no room for Wheatley.