FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick hits from the New England Patriots' locker room on Wednesday:

Revis on his absence. Cornerback Darrelle Revis missed practice on Tuesday and didn't offer any reason as to why he was absent. "Between me and Coach [Belichick]," Revis said.

Next man up. With defensive end Chandler Jones reportedly out for a month with a hip injury, the Patriots are moving forward with the "next man up" mentality. "There's nothing you can do," Devin McCourty said. "We've had to go through some things, losing [Jerod] Mayo and [running back Stevan Ridley]. It's a challenge but you can either sit there and make excuses why you lose or try to find a way to win. I think this team finds ways to win." Revis called Jones the team's best pass-rusher and echoed McCourty by saying the Patriots have to find ways to fill the void. "We all have to step up all across the board," Revis said. "We have to play consistent and do what we do best -- that's create turnovers and get the ball back to the offense."

McCourty on challenges of facing Forte. Bears running back Matt Forte is a threat on the ground, but he also leads the NFL with 52 receptions. McCourty praised Forte's balanced game. "He's probably going to be the most complete back we have seen all year," McCourty said. "It will be tough just to stop him in the run and pass game. I think we are aware of the challenge and we will be ready, but we definitely understand everything he does well on the field."

The big Bears' receivers. The Patriots' secondary will have its hands full with the size of the Bears' receivers. Brandon Marshall is 6-foot-4; Alshon Jeffery is 6-foot-3. McCourty was asked if this is the toughest group they have faced this season. "Probably and when you include [Martellus] Bennett in there, it's just a huge group," McCourty said. "And the thing is that they can run. So it will be a tough challenge, probably one of our toughest challenges that we have had. We have played a lot of really good receivers so far, but this will definitely be another challenge."

Ayers spotted in the locker room. Newly acquired linebacker Akeem Ayers, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, was spotted in the locker room, but would not talk to media. He said he will address reporters on Thursday. Since Ayers comes from the Titans, where McCourty's brother Jason plays, McCourty was asked if Jason provided him with a scouting report. "No, no scouting report, but [Jason] told me to take care of his guy that's coming out here," McCourty said.

The best brothers in the NFL? Is a royal rumble brewing between the McCourtys, Vereens and Joneses to determine the NFL's best set of brothers? "I would first say that the McCourtys are the best brothers in football to start it off," McCourty said. "A lot of guys are close in age, too, and I think that helps when you are trying to do something and live out a dream that you have someone else to count on or some of those other guys have someone's steps to follow." McCourty was asked if a wrestling match would be the main event to determine the winner. "I mean we might have to watch out for the Joneses," McCourty said. "They might put Jon ["Bones" Jones] in there, so anybody else we welcome the challenge."

Siliga in the locker room. Injured defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, who has been on the Patriots' injured reserve with a designation to return, was sitting with teammates in a portion of the locker room. He is eligible to return in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 23.