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New England Patriots News & Rumors

Damien Harris Facing Extended Absence

October 11th, 2022 at 11:46am CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots exited their Week 5 game against the Lions with a lopsided win, but questions about the health of one of their offensive contributors. Running back Damien Harris is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a hamstring injury, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). 

Pelissero adds that further testing is still to be done, but it appears the injury – which forced Harris out of Sunday’s contest – will keep him sidelined for an extended duration. The news marks a significant setback for the 25-year-old pending free agent individually, as well as New England’s ground game in general.

Harris saw only four carries in his rookie season, but has been a steady contributor ever since. His workload increased from 2020 to last season, one in which he topped 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time in his career. His 15 rushing touchdowns that year ranked tied for second in the league, and led to optimism for further production this campaign.

The former third-rounder has found the endzone three times so far in 2022, and maintained a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, nearly identical to his 2021 figure. However, Harris saw a snap share between 39% and 45% in the first four games of the season, a step back from his usage the two previous years. That was owed to the increased workload given to second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson.

The latter flashed plenty of potential as a rookie, and has continued his career ascent in 2022. With 372 yards on 5.5 yards per tote, the Oklahoma product had begun to take on lead back duties prior to Harris’ injury. Now that he will be sidelined, Stevenson is in line to follow up on the 25-carry, 161-yard day he had against the Lions moving forward. With veteran Ty Montgomery already on IR, the Patriots will likely look to fourth-round rookie Pierre Strong Jr. as a backup.

Mac Jones Unlikely To Return In Week 5

October 9th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 9: As expected, Zappe will get his first career start on Sunday, as Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets. Jones is still targeting a Week 6 return.

OCTOBER 6: The Patriots should not be expected to have their starting quarterback in uniform this week. Although Mac Jones managed a limited practice Wednesday, the second-year passer returning in Week 6 also appears far from a lock.

Jones’ injured ankle remains unstable, with NFL.com’s Mike Giardi noting the New England starter is still limping. While Giardi adds Jones is moving around better than he did to end the Pats’ practice sessions last week, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson notes Jones is not believed to be particularly close to returning.

This is not exactly surprising news; Jones is believed to have sustained a “pretty severe” high ankle sprain. Nevertheless, the former first-round pick is making his case to the Pats’ staff to return in Week 5 against the Lions, Wilson adds, but Week 6 — against the Browns — is viewed as the likelier return window.

As for Sunday, the Pats are likely to go with Bailey Zappe. Brian Hoyer is not expected to be cleared from concussion protocol in time for New England’s Week 5 contest, Wilson adds, clearing the way for the team’s third-stringer to make his first start. Zappe, whom the Pats chose 137th overall, completed 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in the Pats’ overtime loss to the Packers. Zappe transformed his stock last year by breaking Joe Burrow‘s Division I-FBS record with a 62-touchdown pass season in his lone Western Kentucky campaign. Playing in a pass-crazed system, Zappe’s 5,967 passing yards topped the FBS field by over 1,000.

The Patriots signed Garrett Gilbert to their practice squad this week. Signs now point to the Pats sporting a Zappe-Gilbert depth chart against the Lions. Gilbert is the only quarterback on New England’s P-squad.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/22

October 8th, 2022 at 5:42pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the roster moves for today, leading into gameday tomorrow. Reminder that gameday elevations will revert to the practice squad after this weekend’s games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Patriots Place QB Brian Hoyer On IR

October 6th, 2022 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Hoyer suffered a concussion during the first half of New England’s Week 4 game in Green Bay. The Patriots are placing their backup quarterback on IR, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. A concussion sending a player to IR, rather than the team having him go through the protocol on a week-to-week basis, is a somewhat rare move. But that is the path the Pats will take with the 14th-year veteran passer.

This will sideline the Patriots’ backup quarterback for at least four games. Head injuries obviously call for concern, and a report earlier Thursday indicated Hoyer was unlikely to clear concussion protocol in time for the Pats’ Week 5 contest. This will leave the Patriots shorthanded at quarterback, with Mac Jones amid another uphill battle to play after suffering a sprained ankle.

Jones sustained what is believed to be a severe high ankle sprain on the final Pats offensive play against the Ravens in Week 3, leading to Hoyer’s spot start last week. Hoyer being forced out of the Lambeau Field matchup brought in fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe, who will be set to make his first NFL start if Jones cannot return in time. Zappe will soon be in position to be Jones’ primary backup.

Jones is viewed as likelier to make a legitimate charge toward returning in Week 6 (against the Browns), but he has gotten in two limited practices this week. That keeps the door open for a surprisingly quick re-emergence. For Hoyer, this is a tough development so late in his career. Despite the veteran passer being far removed from his Texans playoff season (2015), the Pats have prioritized their multi-stint backup.

Hoyer, who will turn 37 next week, began his career with New England as a 2009 UDFA. After the Cleveland-area native began a journeyman career as a backup/frequent starter — one that also included a notable 2014 stretch in his home town — Hoyer re-signed with the Pats after the Jimmy Garoppolo trade in 2017. Garoppolo effectively took Hoyer’s 49ers roster spot, but Tom Brady‘s former backup reprised his old role over the next 1 1/2 seasons, collecting a Super Bowl ring in the process. Following Hoyer’s 2019 Colts campaign, the Pats brought him back. In New England stint No. 3, Hoyer has backed up Jones and Cam Newton. Hoyer’s current contract (two years, $4MM) runs through 2023.

New England signed Garrett Gilbert to its practice squad this week. If Jones is unable to go, the team will likely be forced to turn to a Zappe-Gilbert QB depth chart against the Lions.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/22

October 5th, 2022 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/22

October 5th, 2022 at 6:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

A number of players who were placed on IR after the preseason and prior to the regular season returned to practice today. These players will have a three-week practice window until they have to be activated to the active roster. Otherwise, they’ll be ineligible to return this season.

One of the most surprising returns is Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton. The former undrafted free agent rode a strong preseason to a potential starting gig, but he was sidelined with second-degree burns after spilling hot oil on his legs and feet. Kliff Kingsbury previously said an early-October return may be a “little aggressive” (per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss on Twitter), but the cornerback ended up working his way back to practice.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/22

October 4th, 2022 at 7:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/22

October 3rd, 2022 at 7:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s the practice squad moves from around the league today:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: QB Reid Sinnett

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Patriots Sign LB Jamie Collins

October 3rd, 2022 at 10:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Jamie Collins is set to begin a fourth stint in New England. The Patriots are expected to sign the veteran linebacker either, reports ESPN’s Mike Reiss (Twitter link). Collins’ agent has confirmed the deal. It is a practice squad agreement. 

The 32-year-old found himself on the Patriots’ radar once again last month, when he visited the team on a workout. That came weeks after he did the same with the Raiders, whose coaching staff includes a number of ex-New England personnel. Collins has elected to take the familiar route of reuniting with Bill Belichick.

A Patriots second-rounder in 2013, the Southern Mississippi alum earned Pro Bowl honors for the only time in his career two years later. By the following season, however, he was in Cleveland, where he remained until 2018. A one-year return to Foxborough earned him another lucrative free agent deal, this time from the Lions.

That contract — like his Browns one — was terminated prematurely, however. Free to rejoin the Patriots once again, Collins started two of his 10 appearances with the team last season. He made just 20 tackles in New England, a figure which fell well short of his 101 stops the previous season.

The Patriots lost veterans Kyle Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower during free agency this offseason, leaving the team thin in at the second level. Ja’Whaun Bentley has seen an increase in workload over the past two weeks, with Jahlani Tavai taking on a starter’s role during yesterday’s loss to the Packers. The team also has Raekwon McMillan and Mack Wilson available as depth at the position, so it will be interesting to see what kind of role Collins assumes for the remainder of the season.

Patriots QB Brian Hoyer Out For Game With Head Injury

October 2nd, 2022 at 6:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Patriots were forced to turn to veteran backup quarterback Brian Hoyer with second-year starter Mac Jones out this week after injuring his ankle in the team’s loss to the Ravens. After suffering an injury in his first start since Week 4 of the 2020 season, though, Hoyer has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a head injury. 

On just his second series as the starting quarterback, Hoyer took a hard hit on a sack from Packers linebacker Rashan Gary and left the game to be evaluated with a head injury. Hoyer had looked good in his limited time, completing five of his six pass attempts for 37 yards before getting knocked out of the game.

With Jones and Hoyer ruled out, New England was forced to turn to its fourth-round pick from this year’s draft, Bailey Zappe. The rookie out of Western Kentucky is truly the Patriots’ only option as even their emergency quarterback, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, is out today with a knee injury.

The former Hilltopper faces the daunting task of beating the Packers in his first bit of NFL playing time. So far, Zappe has been up to the task becoming the first quarterback from the 2022 NFL Draft class to throw an NFL touchdown. Both Titans’ rookie quarterback Malik Willis and Steelers’ rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett were allotted playing time before Zappe, but it was Zappe who cashed in with his arm first (Pickett had two rushing touchdowns in today’s loss to the Jets).

Even if Zappe leads the Patriots to an upset victory over the Packers, he likely won’t be asked to man the starting job for long. Despite the apparent severity of Jones’ initial injury, Jones has refused to accept an extended absence, seeking a second opinion on his diagnosis and teasing fans not to count him out for this week’s game before being ruled out. Hoyer’s injury shouldn’t keep him out for very long either, unless it’s an especially severe head injury.

If they are forced to move forward with Zappe, the next few games could be manageable as they don’t face a single team currently over .500 until after their bye week. If Jones and Hoyer are out for multiple weeks, Zappe would be in line to start against the Lions next Sunday and the Browns the following week.

It also would not be a surprise to see New England sign a quarterback to their practice squad this week. The Patriots will need someone to back up Zappe with even Meyers on the injured list.

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