Aaron Dobson, Brandon Bolden to be inactive?
The New England Patriots most notable injury report designation was that of Aaron Dobson, as they listed the second-round receiver as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Dobson was limited during the last two days of practice with a hamstring injury, and I wrote this morning that I didn’t think the injury was of concern. Without much information (I mean, the Patriots never really give injury info), I simply assumed the Patriots were just trying to play mind games on the Bills, especially since the Bills secondary is very hobbled.
New England Patriots draft pick, receiver Aaron Dobson (17) participates in drills during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN Boston projected the New England Patriots inactives for tomorrow’s game, and the most interesting inclusion was that of Aaron Dobson. One of the reasons why they believe Dobson will be inactive is because he is projected to only be a reserve in the Patriots receiver corps and thus won’t play due to the hamstring injury. That’s an interesting take from ESPN Boston, and it’s one that does make sense. While I believe Dobson holds slightly more importance than that, he is such a raw receiver that I don’t expect him to play a major role in the Patriots offense this year either. But, then again, he’s also a great playmaker even with his inconsistencies, and the Patriots could still use that.
It’s a tough call with Dobson, and it will be interesting to see how severe his hamstring injury is. I asked MassLive.com’s Nick Underhill if Dobson would miss tomorrow’s game (I am such a bum that I wrote “today’s”), and Underhill stated that it’s a possibility and that he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see Dobson out.
Brandon Bolden is also expected to miss tomorrow’s game against the Bills, per ESPN Boston, and it appears that Bolden was limited in practice this week with a knee injury that he sustained sometime before Week 4 of the preseason (he missed that game). Bolden was listed questionable on the injury report, and his status is unknown. If Bolden cannot play, then the Patriots will have three running backs, but it should be more than enough against a porous Bills run defense.