Patriots News: Trey Flowers ruled out vs Miami Dolphins

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 26: Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 26: Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots News: Defensive end Trey Flowers will be sidelined tonight because of his rib injury.

New England Patriots news has not been overly positive heading into Monday Night Football. The Patriots will be facing off with their AFC East rivals, the Miami Dolphins under the bright lights. However, they will be very shorthanded in some areas, specifically the defensive line.

It was announced that defensive end Trey Flowers will miss the game tonight due to a rib injury. It will be the second consecutive game that Flowers misses, as the rib injury also kept him out last week against the Buffalo Bills.

Flowers is the top pass-rusher on the Patriots defense. He leads the team with six sacks and has also recorded 19 quarterback hits. Flowers was able to get in some limited practices during the week, but ultimately it was not enough to get back onto the field. Flowers injured his ribs against the Dolphins in their game two weeks ago.

Without Flowers the Patriots pass rush will lose some steam, something the Dolphins have to be happy about. In the previous meeting this season, the Patriots racked up seven sacks on Matt Moore. Flowers was responsible for 3.5 of those sacks.

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In addition to Flowers, the Patriots will also be without every-down linebacker, Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy was limited last week because of injury and will be inactive tonight.

In addition to Flowers and Van Noy, Deatrich Wise Jr. is also listed as questionable. If he is unable to go, the Patriots will be dangerously thin on the edge.

Eric Lee, who was signed off the Bills’ practice squad in the week leading up to the first matchup against the Dolphins, will have a significant role once again. Linebacker Marquis Flowers could help fill that role again after doing it for the first time last week against the Bills. Mike Reiss of ESPN notes that the Patriots also signed Jonathan Freeny this week who has experience along the defensive line.

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In addition to Flowers and Van Noy, the Patriots have also ruled out running back Mike Gillislee and safety Brandon King. Gillislee has been a healthy scratch four consecutive weeks but is missing tonight’s game with an illness. King is a core special teams player. Right tackle Marcus Cannon will also be sidelined tonight.