The New England Patriots suffered a number of accidents to impactful starters.
Just some days into the season, New England misplaced star defensive deal with Christian Barmore, who was hospitalized with blood clots. The Patriots since suffered accidents to left deal with Vederian Lowe, captain and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley in addition to alternative captain and security Kyle Dugger.
However the damage and impending absence of captain and beginning heart David Andrews may function probably the most soul-crushing of all.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo on Wednesday confirmed Andrews can have surgical procedure after he suffered a shoulder damage towards the San Francisco 49ers. Mayo instructed reporters Andrews “in all probability” will miss the rest of the season.
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“It is robust,” Mayo instructed reporters, per a team-provided video. “One factor about Dave, the primary phrase I’d say is simply ‘toughness.’ He is a man who he is been a captain right here, he has nice management skill. He is robust. He is capable of talk throughout the entrance. It is undoubtedly an enormous loss.”
Andrews was arguably an important Patriots participant getting into the season, particularly given how the offensive line appeared in coaching camp and the preseason. Not solely is Andrews one of many prime gamers at his place, however there was an enormous diploma of separation between him and his backups, together with second-stringer Nick Leverett. There have been fumbled snaps, blown protections, and so on. throughout preseason video games. It was ugly when Andrews was out.
Leverett changed Andrews for the ultimate three quarters towards the Niners and held his personal. It might be helpful for that to proceed, in fact, but it surely’s no certainty.
The Patriots have been depleted on the offensive line even earlier than the damage to Andrews. New England began a fourth left deal with (Chukwuma Okorafor, Lowe, Caedan Wallace, Demontrey Jacobs) in 4 weeks. They have been down their prime two left guards (Cole Unusual, Sidy Sow) the primary three weeks. Sow returned in Week 4, however Michael Jordan, who began at left guard the primary three weeks, then was sidelined on account of damage. There’s been no timeline replace on Unusual, who began the season on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) record.
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New England is beginning gamers who have been obtainable on the waiver wire. The group has no depth.
There are different trickle-down results along with Andrews’ presence on the sphere, too. Andrews is a longtime captain and vocal chief of the group. Brissett stated having Andrews as his heart was a key cause he needed to signal with New England. He is well-respected.
And what about rookie quarterback Drake Maye? Would possibly the Patriots be much less more likely to play Maye given the damage to the middle? Mayo instructed reporters one would not relate to the opposite, but when Leverett struggles to guard Brissett it would not be a shock if that modifications.
For a mess of causes, the damage to Andrews might function the knockout punch for the already staggering Patriots.
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