TAMPA, Fla. — Alan Branch has gotten the Jabaal Sheard treatment.
Bill Belichick kept Branch in Foxboro due to performance issues, according to a source. Branch will be a healthy scratch tonight when the Patriots visit the Buccaneers.
Branch’s playing time has been limited over the past three weeks because his play has been too inconsistent. He played 42 snaps (61.8 percent) in the opener against the Chiefs, but just six (9.2 percent) against the Saints, 21 (29.6 percent) against the Texans and 12 (19.0 percent) against the Panthers.
Branch played 60 percent of the defensive snaps last season when he was at his best during his four years with the Patriots.