Patriots captains appear to be cursed after latest news drop sidelines another

Expectations for the Patriots 2024 season were extremely low, some of it due to understanding the difficulties the organization was facing with significant coaching and roster changes. While that was universally accepted, even if it wasn't liked, there was still optimism about the team's future under new leadership and with some great pillar players on the roster heading into the new era.

Much of that and any optimism that sprung from their season opener win against the Bengals have crumbled in the weeks since and continue to deteriorate as the days pass.

Although the universal understanding that there weren't going to be many wins on the year is still widely digestible, there is a big factor that continues to plague the roster that draws more concern about the immediate and long-term in future in New England and at this point, is being labeled a curse by fans and reporters alike.

Once the Patriots announced their captains for the 2024 season, there was a lot of excitement about the newly crowned leaders of the team. It was an impressive group of guys ready to take on the responsibilities of ushering in the Jerod Mayo era in Foxboro, only to be cursed by such a title.

From injuries and possible benchings to disturbing arrests, the Patriots captains have been plagued with bad luck, consequences of poor performance or bad decisions. That continued with the latest news surrounding Jabrill Peppers on Monday morning, the absolute last thing the team needed after another disappointing loss.

Patriots captains were supposed to lead the team to success, but have instead been sidelined for various reasons

It was crucial for the Patriots to put a team of the best possible captains together to be the leaders of the new era in New England this season and they proved to have done that with their choices of David Andrews, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Cardona, Kyle Dugger, and Jabrill Peppers.

Unfortunately, however, heading into Week 6, they are now down at least four of those players with another potentially on the way.

Andrews suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 against the Seahawks, requiring surgery to repair his injured shoulder. It was a massive loss to the offensive line and the locker room, as he is one of the most consistent and tenured Patriots players this season.

Bentley suffered a season-ending injury as well, with Dugger joining them on the injured list for the foreseeable future.

The comes the arrest of Peppers on Monday morning which could sideline him as a consequence of his actions, until or as a result of the ongoing investigation. And Brissett might be benched after another less than ideal performance against the Dolphins this past weekend.

Cardona is the only player to have avoided any sort of setback in one way or another, and (hopefully) that remains the case moving forward.

It feels like the worst possible way for the 2024 season and Mayo era to begin and couldn't get much more. Optimism will be needed that it doesn't continue to spiral as the weeks continue.

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