FOXBOROUGH - Please don't press the panic button yet, but keep it close by. The Patriots released their second injury report of the week, which remains grim. Both Trent Brown and Sidy Sow remained out with concussions. Another half dozen players were listed as limited, including three more offensive linemen you're hoping or need to play: Mike Onwenu, David Andrews, and Cole Strange. Combine that with both their "X" receivers, DeVante Parker and Kayshon Boutte, limited as well, and you wonder how Bill O'Brien will be able to call the kind of game he wants in prime-time Sunday night? Throw in Jon Jones (ankle), and this has all the makings.
BSJ ANALYSIS
Let's start with Brown. If he can't line up at left tackle, I think the Pats would consider flipping Calvin Anderson from right to left. He went the distance against the Eagles, and while it was far from perfect, there was enough there to like. Anderson also has experience on the left side and at least kicked off the rust of a summer spent on the sideline because of illness. That said, Bill Belichick has long loathed making more switches than necessary upfront, believing you risk weakening not just one spot but two.
The only other player who has logged actual NFL time as a quarterback's blindside protector is Vederian Lowe. As you'll recall, he was a late summer acquisition, with the line in disarray. He was seldom used in his rookie season with Minnesota but did get 20 or so snaps at left tackle in the Vikings' regular-season finale. However, he was employed there predominantly during the preseason, with 129 plays in August for Minnesota. Combine that with his collegiate experience - he made 49 career starts at left tackle for the University of Illinois - and you could see why he might make the most sense.
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is also on the roster, but I stand with the artist formerly known as the Big Boy, Greg Bedard, who sees some potential there in Wheatley but remains a work in progress.
Left guard remains fine. Atonio Mafi went wire-to-wire in week one, and if Strange still isn't ready, what can you do? It was a lost summer for last year's first-round pick, Strange, and I'm not sure there would be a massive improvement if he can't go, and it's Mafi once again.
If Sow can't go, that turns the heat up on Onwenu's timetable. I was led to believe he had a chance last weekend, but the Pats held him out. But this time around? If he's close, now's the time to rip the band-aid off. This is precisely why James Ferentz is on the practice squad if they remain cautious. The dude is 34 years old. He is the classic break glass in case of an emergency guy, knows the system, blah blah blah. It's not sexy, but it's why he's in the building.
You'll notice I saved Andrews for last (at least among the offensive linemen). I believe he's playing. Strongly. Unless something were to happen between now and the game, like he slips down a flight of stairs. But in the meantime, there's Ferentz; there's another practice squander, Kody Russey, who has position versatility, and rookie Jake Andrews, who played center and guard this summer and acquitted himself well in the preseason finale.
So, there are bodies to fill the spots, but it certainly raises the degree of difficulty against a front that wasn't great against the Chargers but has real talent.
As for the wideouts, Parker wasn't moving great in the brief window of practice that he was seen. Par for the course. Boutte showed no hamstring problems Sunday and logged 55 snaps in that game. This is the team being cautious and still getting the necessary mental reps from the rookie. If push comes to shove, Jalen Reagor has plenty of game experience and the size to play outside and, at the very least, run defensive backs off.
As for Jones, my understanding is this was more of a veteran day off. Yes, Jones has been dealing with some physical issues that cost him some of the preseason, but as of today, there wasn't any real worry.
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If you were hoping Mike Gesicki could give his new team insight into his old team, the Miami Dolphins, you need to pay more attention. Gesicki's value won't come from anything other than making plays in the passing game.
"Not much to share, honestly," he said. "They've got a new coordinator (Vic Fangio) on the defensive side of the ball, so obviously, there's some personnel things that are the same. But for the most part, a lot of it is new."
Gesicki was a lost soul in Mike McDaniel's offense a season ago, basically the forgotten man despite playing on a franchise tag (think Miami has regrets about the cash allocated there?). He finished with just 32 catches, and despite five touchdowns, the Fins made no effort to retain his services.
Gesicki's excellent pass-catching skills were incredibly devalued in free agency, and he had to settle for a one-year deal in New England with hopes that he could rebuild his profile and get a multi-year deal next offseason. Will he have a little extra something something for McDaniel this weekend?
"Obviously, people are going to try to make it something that it's ultimately not."
The affable tight end said the right things today, but let's be real… he'd love to bust out "The Griddy" after a touchdown or two and a Patriots win Sunday night.
