Final Patriots injury report for Week 3 makes chances of beating the Jets slim
The Patriots are unfortunately playing on a short week after their loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, as they prepare to take on their first AFC East opponent of the season with the Jets on Thursday Night Football.
It's their only primetime game of the year, a blatant indication of just how far the mighty have fallen, and their chances of sneaking out of MetLife Stadium with a win don't look too promising after seeing their final injury report before game time.
There has been an injury bug going around the NFL over the first two weeks, and the Patriots have been mostly fortunate in avoiding that same fate. That only lasted until Monday morning, when it was revealed that linebacker and captain Ja'Whaun Bentley's shoulder injury was actually a torn pectoral that would force him to miss the rest of the season.
It is a massive blow to the defensive line, especially the run defense, and a sorely missed presence in the locker room. Other injuries piled up from their Week 2 game, which is being felt in their preparation for Thursday night's game.
Two more players have joined Bentley and Sidy Sow to miss the Jets matchup, and four more are listed as questionable. Every starting offensive lineman is dealing with some sort of ailment, which makes the questionable offense even more worrisome.
Final Patriots injury report ahead of Week 3 vs. the Jets
OUT | QUESTIONABLE |
|---|---|
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (shoulder) | C David Andrews (hip) |
T Vederian Lowe (ankle) | OL Mike Onwenu (wrist) |
G Sidy Sow (ankle) | S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) |
LB Oshane Ximines (knee) | DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder) |
The silver lining is that a few players have been removed from the injury report entirely: LB Anfernee Jennings, CB Marcus Jones, and G Layden Robinson.
But at the same time, ESPN's Mike Reiss revealed that it's like Oshane Ximines, a core special teamer for the Patriots this season, will likely land on IR over the next few days, making him another loss to the already thin linebacker room in New England.
Besides the concerns surrounding the defensive line, the offensive line remains the primary liability and dictator of how the Patriots will fare the rest of the season. Although they have managed to mostly keep defenders from sacking Jacoby Brissett, the pressure rate is among the worst in the entire league and has hindered any chance at having a passing game through two weeks.
Going against a stout defense like New York with a questionable o-line doesn't bode well for the Patriots' chances to involve the receiving corps. Nor does it look like a sustainable way to win games by only relying on Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson to run the ball.
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