Patriots: Damien Harris IR stint gives exciting young RB a chance
By Adam Weinrib
The New England Patriots placed Damien Harris on IR, which got JJ Taylor promoted from the practice squad.
About a week ago, we thought this was going to be Damien Harris’ year to cement himself in the crowded Patriots backfield.
After all, he’d looked special in camp, and Sony Michel had damaged his own reputation further by being physically unable to perform his duties. Was it possible all along that the Pats had prioritized the wrong SEC running back?
Then, as so often is the case when fans’ plans start getting a little too fanciful, reality struck — Harris was stricken with a hand injury, which was corrected via surgery.
At first, all we heard was that he could miss Week 1. Six days before game day, that expectation has now been amended to at least the season’s first three games, as Harris has been placed on the newfangled iteration of IR. Arizona RB JJ Taylor was recalled in his place from the practice squad, and that’s where things get interesting.
The Patriots have signed RB J.J. Taylor from their practice squad and placed Damien Harris on IR, per source. Harris will miss at least 3 games. Taylor had a great camp.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 7, 2020
Taylor, a 5-6 breath of fresh air, will get a chance to be an entirely unique component of this Patriots backfield. He won’t need to “steal snaps” from anyone — he’ll simply have to be JJ Taylor, a mite-sized threat all his own.
Many thought Taylor would arrive when the Pats chose to drop Lamar Miller before finalizing their 53-man roster; it was also theorized that that move signaled that Harris’ injury really was minor.
That’s why you don’t theorize. We were all very wrong.
JJ Taylor is 5-foot-6 and now the first 2020 UDFA to make the Patriots 53-man roster https://t.co/SYkZSfRDXi
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) September 7, 2020
Taylor did it all for the Wildcats offense, racking up 3,262 yards and 18 total touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 62 passes and returning 41 kicks, insinuating that he might be deployed as another option for giving Julian Edelman relief in the return game.
And none of this would’ve happened so quickly if not for a twist of fate for Harris, right as his camp performance was at its highest high.
There’s certainly a positive spin on this turn of events, which just redefined the Pats backfield.
