BSJ analysis: How will Patriots handle challenge of losing Hightower for season?

Dont’a Hightower is out for the season with a torn pec, a league source has confirmed to BostonSportsJournal.com.

The veteran linebacker went down in the second half of Sunday’s win over the Falcons when Hightower was attempting a tackle on Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman. He came out of the game, and was later ruled out with a shoulder injury. He did not practice on Wednesday.

The Alabama product has been a central part of two Super Bowl championship teams since he first arrived in Foxborough, and signed a four-year, $35.5 million contract this offseason to return to New England. The 27-year-old has shown an ability to play multiple spots and tackle multiple responsibilities, having seen time at both the edge and in the middle since he arrived in Foxborough as a first-round pick back in 2012.

BSJ analysis: What now for the Patriots?




The loss of Hightower is a sizable blow to a New England defense that had been improving tremendously over the last month. The numbers were poor to start the season, but over the last three games — a stretch that included the return of Hightower from a knee injury — the defensive play had improved greatly. While it wasn’t all about the return of Hightower, it wasn’t coincidental that things had gotten better on the defensive side of the ball with the re-acclimation of Hightower into the mix.

For many years, whenever a key player has gone down with an injury, Patriots coach Bill Belichick would be asked how he’d go about replacing them. Inevitably, Belichick would always answer with some variation of the same reply: “You can’t replace (Player X) with one individual.” That will certainly be the case here, as a group of defenders will now have to collectively raise their game to try and replace the likes of Hightower.

Chief among that group? Linebackers Kyle Van Noy and David Harris. You could argue that Van Noy has already gone above and beyond this year — while his play has been occasionally uneven, he’s one of the defensive leaders when it comes to total snaps played, has had the green dot on the back of his helmet for the bulk of the season, and has shown a knack to come up with big plays when it matters. (Witness his fourth-down stop against the Falcons.) In addition, expect the veteran Harris to see a sizable increase in his role in the middle. While he has nowhere near the same physical skills as Hightower and has lost a step when it comes to overall pursuit, the Patriots will inevitably call upon Harris’ wisdom and experience, skills that come with having spent 11 seasons in the league.

Two more names to consider: Shea McClellin, who will be rotated back into the mix when he comes off injured reserve sooner rather than later. McClellin has a versatile skill set, and while he’s also not an All-Pro like Hightower, expect New England to tap into some of that versatility he showed when he was in Chicago. There’s also Elandon Roberts to help provide depth in the middle, although Roberts has struggled at times this year while fighting through some nagging injuries. Trevor Reilly was just elevated from the practice squad, and will also likely be used as an occasional depth presence. Ditto Marquis Flowers, although in truth, they're more special teamers than linebackers at this point in their careers.

With Hightower spending a lot of time on the edge this season — and the Patriots seemingly comfortable with Trey Flowers on one side — there will also be increase expectations going forward on two younger players to hold down the other side, Deatrich Wise and Cassius Marsh. Their roles and/or responsibilities won’t increase dramatically, but with the removal of Hightower from the rotation, both of them suddenly become that much more important to the success of New England’s front seven.

And with the trade deadline approaching at 4 p.m. Tuesday, a move is certainly not out of the question. But think more about a Van Noy-type trade, instead of an Aqib Talib move.

In the end, a singular player won’t be asked to replicate Hightower’s production. The Alabama product has emerged as a defensive centerpiece on the field and a leader off the field. It’ll take a collective effort by several individuals to try and replicate his talent and leadership ability going forward. Losing Hightower is big, and will provide a real test for the franchise the rest of the way. With such a small margin for error at the top of the NFL mountain, whether or not the Patriots’ coaching staff and players can rise to that challenge could ultimately come to define the rest of their 2017 season.