UPDATED ITEMS FOR SUNDAY:
- QB Bailey Zappe, WR Ty Montgomery signed to 53
- QB Matt Corral put on exempt/left squad list
- CB Jack Jones to IR
- LB Calvin Munson elevated from practice squad
More below
News items:
- OL Mike Onwenu (ankle), DeVante Parker (knee), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (illness), OG Cole Strange (knee) all questionable.
- OT Conor McDermott waived with an injury settlement.
BSJ ANALYSIS
- Corral is obviously the big news. The Patriots could not put him on that list unless he literally left the team.
From what I've been told from a league source: Corral disappeared after Thursday's practice and no one could find him for two days ... that would seem to indicate that they found him. They have not released him.
- UPDATE: Just because Jones is on IR doesn't mean that I 100 percent think it's all injury. But that's just a gut feeling.
The Jones thing is very curious. Bill Belichick said today that he's having some follow-up tests after being hurt in practice on Wednesday.
"We’ll see how it goes," he said.
Players do get injured in practice. That does happen. And it appears the Patriots were in full pads on Wednesday.
That being said, I would not put it past the Patriots to tell Jones they were making him inactive this week (at the least) as punishment for his gun charge. They have done that in the past, saying, "We're not going to embarrass you ... we'll say it's a hamstring ... react to this the right way, it will only be one or two games."
A team "suspension" was something that I previously lobbied for. If that's what the Patriots are doing, good for them. Jones is talented and needs to know, especially after last season's suspension, that there are consequences for actions that hurt the team. Very little downside here, if that's what they are doing.
When you consider the length he played in the final preseason game and now this, it's very strange.
Then again, it could be a legitimate injury.
Landing on IR changes nothing for me. If he's out longer than 4 weeks, then we can talk.
- What now at cornerback? Jones' usage against the Packers tipped something off. Even if Jones was "healthy" I don't think he was going to have a huge role in the opener based off that.
So the boundaries will likely be Christian Gonzalez and Jon Jones. I would not be surprised if Myles Bryant is the slot, or Jalen Mills factors in. With Marcus Jones the next option.
Nothing was going to be ideal against the Eagles.
- Corral is also very curious. Nobody around the Patriots is answering questions about this, which is odd. It could be a personal situation that caused him to be away from the team for a day or so.
It could also be something else. Corral was not on the transaction list. However, the Patriots could be preparing to waive him. Maybe it's because, after a couple weeks, they don't think he's their type of guy. Maybe it's just a transaction to sign Bailey Zappe to the active roster. The OL situation is making roster spots scarce.
UPDATE: Now we know. Corral went AWOL
- Interesting that the Patriots labeled Onwenu as "OL" and not "G" like Strange. It may mean that RT is a possibility for him, now or at some point.
That Strange and Onwenu are questionable - and they appeared limited in practice - means that we could be in store for a rotation at the guard spots. Atonio Mafi has received a ton of playing time at LG. Jake Andrews has received some at RG. Sidy Sow could have been kicked inside the past two weeks for some reps. Calvin Anderson didn't practice at all this summer - seems to be a stretch to say he can be a full-time starter at RT in the opener.
A guess on the starters/rotation:
LT: Trent Brown
LG: Cole Strange/Atonio Mafi
C: David Andrews
RG: Mike Onwenu/Sidy Sow
RT: Vederian Lowe/Calvin Anderson
- McDermott could be back after a certain amount of weeks (term of the injury settlement plus three weeks).
- Have a hard time seeing Parker active on Sunday. That would push Kendrick Bourne to the X position (good) with Juju Smith-Schuster in the slot. Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte would each move up a spot. Would be surprised if Jalen Reagor gets promoted on emergency basis, but it's possible. With Ty Montgomery set to be promoted at 3rd down back and with two TE sets/run game heavy, I'd be surprised if the Patriots were all that worried about WR, especially with an unproven guy who hasn't been here long.
- Patriots captains:
C David Andrews
TE Hunter Henry (first time)
QB Mac Jones
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
DL Deatrich Wise Jr.
ST Matthew Slater