LeGarrette Blount injury: ramifications

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The injury bug has stung the New England Patriots’ backfield. Starting running back LeGarrette Blount suffered a right knee injury in Patriots training camp yesterday.

While it’s encouraging that Blount was able to walk off the field, this is worrying. Anytime your top running back hurts his knee, whether the month is August or February, you cringe. Especially with a bulldozer like Blount, who helped power the Patriots to the Super Bowl last year.

Over the course of his 21 regular season games with the Patriots, Blount has averaged 4.9 yards per carry. That’s better than his figures in Tampa Bay (4.6) and Pittsburgh (4.1). Not only do the Patriots and their fan base enjoy having Blount around, but also No. 29 evidently likes running the football in New England.

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Blount is already set to miss the opener against his former black-and-yellow clad-teammates because of a one-game suspension. Missing any more time in September would be bad news indeed.

The Patriots will already be adjusting to life with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. If Blount misses significant time at the beginning of the season, Jimmy G’s four games as the starter will be that much more difficult.

But the Patriots being who they are, adjustments will be made. The well-oiled winning machine will plug ahead.

Since it’s still summer and Week 1 is just under five weeks away, we’re going to dig a little deeper into the thought of an elongated Blount absence. Read on for three ramifications of Blount’s knee injury.

Next: 3. Will Gray be the starter?