HEADLINES

New England Patriots News & Rumors

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Wilson, Patriots

November 22nd, 2022 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Byron Jones is moving toward a lost season, but the Dolphins are not giving up hope on the eighth-year defender. Mike McDaniel did confirm Jones is still not ready to practice due to the ankle and Achilles operation he underwent in March. While the high-priced cornerback was expected to be ready for training camp, it has obviously brought concern he remains on the shelf into Thanksgiving week. McDaniel said this week he is optimistic Jones will, in fact, suit up at some point this season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes.

The Dolphins have been without Jones and Nik Needham, given a second-round RFA tender to stay in Miami this year, for weeks. Needham is out for the season. Jones’ absence — by far his longest as a pro — has left the 7-3 team shorthanded at corner. It will be interesting to see if Jones can indeed contribute for the Fins this season. By restructuring Jones’ five-year, $82.5MM deal this offseason, the Dolphins added some future dead money to the contract — in the event they want to move on before its conclusion.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • Faced with the prospect of a second-year demotion, Zach Wilson may be losing some support in the Jets locker room. Wilson indicated he did not feel his 9-for-22, 77-yard passing performance against the Patriots let the team’s defense down, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes those remarks upset some defenders. The former No. 2 overall pick piloted an offense that totaled 103 yards against the Pats — the fourth-fewest in Jets history — months after a Wilson-led attack set a franchise record with 53 yards in Week 18 of last season. Monday marked the first time Saleh has threatened to bench Wilson, who earned his job back following each of his knee injuries over the past two seasons. Wilson ranks 23rd in QBR (45.1) but is second-to-last in passer rating (72.6).
  • The Patriots placed Christian Barmore on IR last week, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) the team expects him to return later this season. The second-year defensive tackle has battled knee inflammation for weeks. Surgery is not on the agenda here, per Schefter, who adds New England anticipates Barmore returning after the four-week IR minimum. He is eligible to come back in Week 15.
  • Joining Jones on the injury front, Trey Flowers is unlikely to come off the Dolphins‘ IR list for a bit. McDaniel said (via Jackson) Flowers is not close to returning from the foot injury that sidelined him in mid-October. Flowers is eligible to return from IR this week, but it cannot be assumed he comes off IR this season. The Dolphins do have six injury activations remaining, however, providing some flexibility even when factoring in the Jones situation. Flowers, who sat in free agency for months prior to his Dolphins agreement, played just 65 defensive snaps with his new team this season. Injuries hindered Flowers significantly in Detroit as well. The Dolphins have both he and Emmanuel Ogbah out of the equation at defensive end.
  • Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona said he would like to see his position more respected, salary-wise, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com posits this could affect how Cardona approaches his free agency. Cardona would have his work cut out for him if he takes such a stance. Long snappers are the league’s lowest-paid players, with each earning the league minimum or just north of that. Browns snapper Charley Hughlett signed an extension this year that made him the league’s highest-paid snapper — at $1.4MM per year.

Patriots Sign OL Conor McDermott Off Jets’ Practice Squad

November 22nd, 2022 at 1:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Jets offensive line backup for the past four seasons, Conor McDermott is heading out of town. The Patriots are signing the veteran blocker off the Jets’ practice squad, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

While the Jets have been McDermott’s primary NFL employer, this transaction will mark a homecoming. The Patriots drafted McDermott in the 2017 sixth round out of UCLA.

Amid their early-season issues staffing their tackle positions, the Jets used McDermott to fill the roles opened by the injuries to Mekhi Becton, George Fant and Duane Brown. While Becton is out for the season and Fant remains on IR, Brown has returned. The Jets, who have also seen guard-turned-tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker suffer a season-ending injury, have used journeyman Cedric Ogbuehi as their starting right tackle in recent weeks. McDermott, who has seen time on 18% of the Jets’ offensive plays this season, played against the Patriots in Week 11 but did so as a P-squad gameday elevation.

McDermott, 30, did not make the Patriots’ 2017 roster and only spent a few months with the team post-draft. The Bills claimed the 6-foot-8 lineman and kept him around through the 2018 season. Playing 39% of the Jets’ offensive snaps last season and seeing action on 31% of their 2019 offensive plays, McDermott has played in 43 career games and made six starts.

The Patriots lost O-line starters David Andrews and Isaiah Wynn during their win over the Jets, creating a need for reinforcements. Both are expected to miss time. New England also has its starting right tackle, Marcus Cannon, on IR.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/21/22

November 21st, 2022 at 7:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Released: G Jordan Meredith

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: LB Benton Whitley

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: DT Jarrod Hewitt

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/22

November 21st, 2022 at 6:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Patriots OL David Andrews, Isaiah Wynn To Miss Time

November 20th, 2022 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

New England’s interior offensive line took some hits in today’s win over the Jets. Both starting center David Andrews and left guard Isaiah Wynn left today’s game with injuries that could force the Patriots to reconfigure their men upfront for the remainder of the year.

Andrews has been the longtime center in New England since signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2015. While he’s missed his fair share of games in the past with injuries, a seven-game season would easily be a career-low for the 30-year-old out of Georgia. Andrews left today’s game with a thigh injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He’ll undergo more testing to determine the severity of the injury, but the Patriots are reportedly not expecting good news as they fear the injury may end his season.

Wynn has also been a consistent starting presence on the Patriots offensive line since being selected in the first-round four years ago. Wynn was originally intended to contribute as a tackle but was moved inside in 2020 and has continued in that role this season. Wynn is, unfortunately, a bit more accustomed to missing extended periods of time than Andrews. Wynn tore his Achilles tendon in 2018, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season. He spent stretches of time on injured reserve in each of the following two seasons for a toe injury and a knee injury. Wynn left today’s game “with a foot injury,” according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, and could also miss extended time due to the ailment. He, too, will undergo further testing in order to determine the extent of the injury.

Rookie Cole Strange is expected to fill in for Wynn during any time he may miss. The two have been jostling in recent weeks for a starting spot, despite both holding starting roles for most of the season. With Wynn out, New England will have little choice but to let Strange take the opportunity. Andrew’s backup is James Ferentz, who started at center for each of the past two games that Andrews has missed lately.

These injuries seem to pile onto similar blows to the team’s offensive line this season. Andrews could be joining Chasen Hines and Marcus Cannon on IR, and, even if Wynn doesn’t get assigned to IR, he may be sitting out like Andrew Stueber has done recently due to injury.

Before today’s win over their division-opponents, the Patriots were fourth in the AFC East. They now sit at third with a 6-4 record, one win behind current division leaders Miami (7-3) and Buffalo (7-3). The injuries will certainly make it difficult for New England to stay in what has turned into a very intriguing division race.

Patriots Place P Jake Bailey On IR, Sign P Michael Palardy

November 19th, 2022 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots will shut down their punter for a while. They placed Jake Bailey on IR and signed veteran Michael Palardy from their practice squad to the active roster, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Midway through his fourth season as the Patriots’ punter, Bailey is battling a back injury. The team will need to have other plans at punter for at least four games. These will be Bailey’s first missed games as a pro.

Despite veteran Ryan Allen engaging in a rather high-stakes punting duel with perennial All-Pro Johnny Hekker in Super Bowl LIII, the Pats made a change at that position ahead of the 2019 season. They drafted Bailey in the fifth round and jettisoned their six-year incumbent. Bailey has become one of the league’s better punters since taking over.

A Stanford product, Bailey earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2020, when he averaged a career-high 48.3 yards per punt. After posting a 47.3-yard average last season, Bailey has seen his per-boot number drop to 42.1 this year — last in the league. Bailey finished fourth and ninth in this category in 2020 and ’21, respectively.

Palardy, 30, has not punted in a game this season. He has held steady gigs previously, most recently serving as the Dolphins’ punter in 16 games last season. Also Carolina’s punter from 2016-19, Palardy averaged 44.7 yards per punt with Miami. New England added Palardy to its practice squad earlier this month.

Patriots Place DT Christian Barmore On IR

November 18th, 2022 at 8:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots appeared to be close to having a starter on their defensive interior available soon, but things have quickly taken a significant turn. Christian Barmore has been placed on IR, per a team announcement.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined since Week 6 due to a knee injury. That cost him New England’s three contests before their bye week, but a return had been expected soon. Indeed, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes that Barmore appeared to be on track to play this Sunday against the Jets until being rule out earlier today (Twitter link).

A second-round pick in 2021, Barmore appeared in all 17 games as a rookie; though he officially only started two of those contests, he logged a 55% snap share. That figure sits at 53% in 2022, though a breakthrough in the pass-rush department has yet to take place at the NFL level. Barmore has 2.5 sacks across his 23 games in New England, after he exploded with 8.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in his final season at Alabama.

By being placed on IR, Barmore will now miss at least another four weeks. New England has six of their allotted eight activations remaining, though they have a list of players who will use up some of that total including quarterback Brian Hoyer and running back Ty Montgomery.

In Barmore’s continued absence, the Patriots will carry on with the likes of Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy and Carl Davis along the defensive interior. While that front has surrendered over 120 yards per game on the ground, it has contributed to the unit’s overall performance in allowing the sixth-fewest points per game (18.4).

Sitting in fourth in the highly-competitive AFC East, the 5-4 Patriots’ playoff hopes will be greatly affected by the outcome of Sunday’s game. They will not have their highly-touted d-lineman available, though, and his development will have taken another hit by the time the calendar flips to December.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/22

November 17th, 2022 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Houston Texans

  • Signed: CB BoPete Keyes
  • Released: RB Gerrid Doaks

New England Patriots

  • Signed: OL Hunter Thedford

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Eyeing More Germany Games; France, Spain, Sweden On Radar

November 17th, 2022 at 11:53am CST by Sam Robinson

An energetic crowd enhanced Sunday’s Seahawks-Buccaneers matchup — the first regular-season game on German soil — and the league may end up increasing its commitment to holding games in continental Europe.

The NFL announced a commitment to play at least three more games in Germany through 2025 earlier this year, but Roger Goodell said last weekend he would not be surprised if more games are added. Indeed, NBC Sports’ Peter King notes momentum may be building toward two Germany games taking place in 2023.

The Chiefs and Patriots, per King, are the frontrunners to be the designated home teams in those games. Because AFC teams have the extra home game next season, some of the conference’s squads will be playing those at neutral sites. More neutral-site football appears to be on the radar as well.

In addition to the England and Germany commitments, the league is eyeing games in France and Spain. Scheduling games in those two nations is “very much on our radar,” according to Brett Gosper, NFL Head of UK and Europe (via the Associated Press’ Ken Maguire). Spain might be first in the pecking order here, with Maguire noting the Bears and Dolphins have home marketing rights there. No teams have such rights in France.

“Certainly, in next six months to 12 months we’ll be really testing the viability of our options from a stadium point of view — not just in Europe but elsewhere — and then at the same time in parallel seeing what the appetite is for clubs to potentially exploit those markets with a game,” Gosper said.

Gosper also mentioned Sweden as a possibility for a future site. The NFL held a preseason game in Sweden in 1988. International venues helped drive the league to add the 17th regular-season game, and the Germany experience — save for the field quality at Allianz Arena — has drawn steady praise from those involved. While five games were scheduled for outside the U.S. this season, with No. 5 coming Monday in Mexico City, it certainly looks like that number will grow soon.

Load More Posts