Aaron Dobson questionable, Danny Amendola probable
The New England Patriots have listed two wide receivers on the injury report in No. 1 wideout Danny Amendola and second-round rookie Aaron Dobson, and both players are locks to play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Although Aaron Dobson is listed as questionable, it is extremely difficult to envision him missing Sunday’s game, but it does mean that there could be something to this apparently new hamstring issue. Amendola was listed as a limited participant at practices earlier this week, but he participated fully yesterday. He said himself that he is sick of the talk of him being injured and is locked in to play on Sunday. The former St. Louis Rams star is one of the most fiery wide receivers in this league, and the groin injury that is afflicting him is basically nothing. Amendola is playing on Sunday, and the fact that the Patriots were limiting him is basically the same thing they did last year with Wes Welker; there is no injury worth noting.
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) catches a touchdown pass during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Dobson suddenly appeared on the injury list on Thursday with hamstring ailment, and he was listed as a limited participant during both Thursday’s and Friday’s practices. But Dobson should be good-to-go, and he will be making his regular season debut against the Buffalo Bills. Dobson has a lot of upside, but he’s also extremely raw and could have a rough debut. But Dobson is somebody the defense always has to keep an eye on, because he has good size, speed, and elite ball skills; Aaron Dobson can make the big play.
I expect Danny Amendola to have a huge day against the Bills, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Amendola catch something like nine passes for 129 yards. Why those numbers? Well, those are the same numbers Wes Welker put up on the Bills the first time the Patriots and Bills faced off last season. As for Dobson, I think we’ll see him snag a pair of passes for something around 40 yards.