We'll be adding to this file during the course of the game week. The bulkier items will be here, with the most recent on top. Quicker news items will be in the live posts at the bottom.
Oct. 9, 2021
The Patriots placed RT Trent Brown on IR, meaning he's out at least three weeks.
With Isaiah Wynn and Mike Onwenu on the Covid list and not expected back for this game, the Patriots elevated OL James Ferentz and DB Myles Bryant to replace them.
Standard practice squad elevations were OLs Alex Redmond and Will Sherman.
As I said on Friday, this is my expected Patriots line:
LT Herron
LG Ferentz
C Andrews
RG Karras
RT Durant
Yodny Cajuste will likely play some, not sure where. I'm guessing a bit at RT.
Redmond and Sherman will be backups.
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The final injury report is out, and it's not good news for the offensive line:
OUT
T Trent Brown, Calf (DNP)
G Shaq Mason, Abdomen (DNP)
CB Shaun Wade, Concussion (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, Shoulder (LP)
DB Cody Davis, Knee (LP)
S Kyle Dugger, Hamstring (LP)
K Nick Folk, Left Knee (LP)
CB Jonathan Jones, Ankle (LP)
DB Jalen Mills, Hamstring (LP)
LB Ronnie Perkins, Ankle (LP)
LB Kyle Van Noy, Groin (LP)
TEXANS
OUT
RB Rex Burkhead, Hip (DNP)
QB Deshaun Watson, Not Injury Related (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
OL Marcus Cannon, Back (DNP)
WR Danny Amendola, Thigh (LP)
My best guess for offensive line:
Wynn
Onwenu
Andrews
Karras
Herron/Durant
If Wynn/Onwenu aren't cleared:
Herron
Karras
Andrews
Ferentz
Durant
Actually, just got some information on where the Patriots are for BSJ members:
Wynn and Onwenu being cleared for Sunday is unlikely, though not impossible.
Best guess at the line:
LT Herron
LG Ferentz
C Andrews
RG Karras
RT Durant
Cajuste will likely play some, not sure where. I'm guessing a bit at RT.
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In the final practice of the week, the Patriots were still without 4/5ths of their starting offensive line:
LT Isaiah Wynn (Covid)
LG Mike Onwenu (Covid)
RG Shaq Mason (Abdomen)
RT Trent Brown (Calf)
Doesn't appear the Patriots are overly concerned, especially with Wynn and Onwenu. It's less than 48 hours to the game and they have yet to make a roster move.
What does Bill Belichick think?
"I think today will help clear some of that up," he said today. "But whoever has the opportunity, I’m sure they’ll make the most of it, and I know the guys that have been at practice are working as hard as they can to be ready to go, and the guys that did are, likewise, preparing, and if they get the opportunity, I think they’ll be ready to go too, so we’ll see how it all plays out. I don’t know."
If those players can't go, the likely option for the line:
LT Yodny Cajuste (no career starts)
LG Ted Karras
C David Andrews
RG Justin Herron
RT Yasir Durant
Options on practice squad:
James Ferentz
Alex Redmond
Will Sherman
Drake Jackson
I could see Ferentz being inserted at guard, which would move Herron to LT.
Other Belichick notes:
- On Jamie Collins being back: "Well, Jamie has experience in our system. I feel like he gives us some depth at that spot. He has some versatility, so we’ll work through it here and see how it goes. ... We’ll see (on playing Sunday). I think that really depends really on how things go today, and then we’ll talk about the roster and all that after today’s practice and tomorrow."
- Belichick happy with the receivers: "Well, I’m glad we have all of them. I think they’ve all contributed. Done a good job. Certainly, they give us some depth and quality at that position along with Jakobi [Meyers]. It’s been good to get N’Keal [Harry] back. So those have all been positives. I think Hunter [Henry] and Jonnu [Smith], KB [Kendrick Bourne] and Nelly [Nelson Agholor] have all helped us, and they do different things, but they complement each other, and I think the more time we spend together and the more time they work with Mac [Jones], who is another part of this, that’ll continue to move in a positive direction as it has so far."
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The Patriots, who saw their linebacker ranks thinned last week with Ja'Whaun Bentley out with a shoulder injury, are bringing in some help in the form of a former Patriot — Jamie Collins.
Additionally, the Patriots moved the left side of their beleaguered offensive line, Isaiah Wynn and Mike Onwenu, to the Covid-19 list.
BSJ Analysis
On Collins...
- He's on his way for a physical, which means the framework of a deal has been worked out.
- Patriots had no interest in trading for his contract.
- If it means the Patriots don't have to play Harvey Langhi and Jahlani Tavai, then wonderful.
- All three linebackers (Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Collins) are 31 and all three have lost a step or two.
- God forbid the Patriots actually draft and develop any linebackers to replace their aging core. (A lonely Patriots Nation turns its eyes to you, Cam McGrone in 2022).
- Still have faith Hightower will round into form, but there's some internal concern about Van Noy's play and his durability going forward.
- All three linebackers were the core of the 2019 defense, which collapsed down the stretch and allowed the Dolphins and Ryan Fitzpatrick to drive the field at the end of the game and knock the Patriots from a bye.
- That stretch started the 10-16 funk the Patriots have been in for nearly two seasons.
- At least Collins knows the system and can certainly be functional. I'm not sure how much athleticism he brings and how much impact he'll have at this point.
On Wynn and Onwenu...
- If the players are vaccinated, they could be back in a few days, "The positive individual will be permitted to return to duty after two negative tests at least 24-hours apart."
- If unvaccinated, it's at least 10 days out. "If an unvaccinated person tests positive, the protocols from 2020 will remain in effect. The person will be isolated for a period of 10 days and will then be permitted to return to duty if asymptomatic. Unvaccinated individuals will continue to be subject to a five-day quarantine period if they have close contact with an infected individual."
- Onwenu was benched for Ted Karras during the Bucs game. Yodny Cajuste would be in line for left tackle, but the Patriots could opt for Trent Brown. This would be the opening to move him and Wynn for the rest of the season.
- I've never seen Wynn at another position than left tackle. Brown has been only a right tackle since he's been back. I think the Patriots like the road-grading potential on the right side with Shaq Mason and Brown ... if Brown returns to the lineup.