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Here are the top areas of emphasis for the Patriots during their bye

By Patrick Morgan

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Rex Burkhead #34 of the New England Patriots carries the ball during the third quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Rex Burkhead #34 of the New England Patriots carries the ball during the third quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

Ensure roster is as healthy and ready to play as possible

This time last week, at least nine different players were listed on the team’s official injury report. While all but two of those players were eventually able to suit up for Sunday night’s game against the Ravens, it’s not as if the other seven players somehow miraculously made their way back to 100% health in that four-day span.

Playing football competitively means playing through injuries. Every single member of New England’s roster is probably dealing with some degree of an injury or ailment at this point in the year, and while the team has an excellent training and medical staff in place to help players manage their respective conditions, the best, most universal cure under the sun is always going to be rest.

This bye comes at a great time for players like Rex Burkhead, Julian Edelman, Gunner Olszewski, and Shaq Mason, who have all been battling lingering injuries for multiple weeks now. It’s the perfect occasion for Edelman to get his chest and shoulder right, for Burkhead to stay off his bum foot, etc.

Hopefully the Patriots will return for their Week 11 game against the Eagles at as close to full strength as they’ve been since the beginning of the season.

The defense has managed to stay remarkably healthy from September until now, with only Patrick Chung missing significant amounts of time over the past nine weeks. The offense, on the other hand, has seen almost weekly turnover and attrition across the board, but specifically at receiver and tight end.

A number of players should be making their return to the New England lineup soon. N’Keal Harry was eligible to play against the Ravens, but it appears the Patriots will delay his regular season debut for at least one more game. Matt LaCosse could also return to action as a third tight end option behind Benjamin Watson and Ryan Izzo.

And most important of all, starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn figures to return to the starting offensive line rotation as early as Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys.

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