Mike Vrabel delivered the injury news fans of the New England Patriots have been waiting for on Friday afternoon.
While Vrabel did rule out versatile defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, who was unable to practice this week due to a nagging foot issue, the team’s trending toward getting the rest of its injured starters back for Sunday night’s home playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
That’s major news for the Patriots, who have been without key defenders like top edge rusher Harold Landry Jr., and middle linebacker Robert Spillane, who was piecing together an All-Pro season prior to getting banged up in Week 13. Spillane was removed from the injury report altogether, and will make his return on Sunday night. Landry’s listed as questionable, but given his practice participation this week, fans should expect him to be available against the Chargers' porous offensive line.
Vrabel confirmed that rookie Jared Wilson has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and will start Sunday’s game at left guard. Starting wide out Kayshon Boutte, limited this week due to a hamstring issue, will carry a questionable designation into the game.
The reported illness sweeping through the Patriots’ locker room appears to be a non-factor, with Morgan Moses and others cleared and ready to roll.
The Patriots’ improving health could be a game-changer vs. undermanned Chargers
The Chargers opted to rest quarterback Justin Herbert and other banged-up starters in Week 18, and it wound up sealing their fate as the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Did the Chargers really tank for a preferred matchup with the second-seeded Patriots, though? Fans may contest that’s exactly what the Chargers did, but when you examine their situation more closely, you’ll find more necessity there than strategy.
For starters, Herbert fractured his non-throwing hand in Week 13, quickly got surgery, and has been playing through the issue ever since. Ball security in the pocket could become a legitimate factor for a Chargers team that’s already given up 60 sacks on the season.
A key reason for that duress has been an offensive line that lost both of its starting tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, for the season. That’s left Jim Harbaugh’s group searching for answers. According to an ESPN report, the Chargers entered their regular-season finale allowing the second-highest pressure percentage on QB drop backs, while ranking 28th in yards per rush in runs up the middle.
The Patriots should be able to take advantage with Spillane, Landry and Milton Williams all on track to share the field together for the first time since Week 11. Losing Tonga for this game definitely hurts, but New England should have enough depth at defensive tackle with Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, and Williams to remain formidable up front.
New England’s injury luck ran out near midseason, but the team was able to manage the second half mostly without starting left tackle Will Campbell, Spillane, and Williams. The Patriots appear to be about as healthy as fans could hope for entering Round 1 of the playoffs, and the same definitely can’t be said for the team flying to Foxboro from the West Coast this weekend.