Another day, another injury. Or should I say, another injury in the backfield. On Saturday morning, New England Patriots running back Travaris Cadet left practice early.
The injury bug might have bit another Patriots RB. Travaris Cadet is slowly walking off the field with trainers.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 8, 2015
Injuries continue to pile up at #Patriots camp. RB Travaris Cadet has helmet taken away & heads to locker room w/ athletic trainer this a.m.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 8, 2015
Understandably, Cadet was not happy.
As RB Travaris Cadet walked to locker room, his frustration with injury was evident as he kicked his right foot into the grass. #Patriots
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 8, 2015
Put yourself in Cadet’s position. After being underutilized in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, you finally get an opportunity to be a major contributor in a shallow New England backfield. And then four days before the first preseason game, you get hurt. Tough luck.
Hopefully, this isn’t anything major. After all, another shot to the Patriots’ meager backfield would be brutal.
Related: Ramifications of LeGarrette Blount injury
Throughout training camp, Cadet has been a noteworthy player. In his report of yesterday’s practice, the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride included Cadet in his “Three Up” section, saying this:
"With the possible exception of Amendola, no player in camp runs with more energy; he goes all out on every play."
Cadet had been tracking upward as a definite player to make the 53-man roster even before Blount went down. Now, Cadet can only hope that his injury is minor and that he will be healthy for preseason action. He may be a player that people in New England are getting excited about (like me), but he still needs to prove himself in live action.
With both Blount and Cadet on the injury report right now, Jonas Gray is in that much more of a commanding position in the Patriots’ backfield.
There’s a possibility the Patriots will look to the street for help at the depleted running back position. Who knows, maybe a guy like Knowshon Moreno or Jonathan Dwyer will make an appearance at Patriots training camp in the coming weeks. Rich Hill of PatsPulpit is keen on Pierre Thomas.
Patriots should really look into Pierre Thomas as an RB signing.
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) August 8, 2015
Hopefully, Cadet heals up and the Patriots don’t have to delve into the risky free agent market of veteran running backs.