Sony Michel May Miss Regular-Season Time
The Patriots saw the second of their first-round picks suffer a knee injury this week. Although it’s not viewed as a severe malady, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets Sony Michel could be out until early in the regular season.
Michel left Wednesday’s practice, and the exit left the team “concerned,” per Howe (on Twitter). This setback requires a corrective procedure, per Howe, and one that is expected to at the very least shelve the Georgia-developed running back for the preseason. Howe adds Michel’s recovery time might extend into the regular season.
This procedure already took place, with Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reporting (Twitter link) more optimistic news as a result. Michel will be out at least 10 days, which will almost certainly sideline him for at least two Pats preseason games but possibly having him ready to return later this month.
New England allowed Dion Lewis to defect to Tennessee this offseason but added Michel at No. 31. Michel can be expected to play a big role for the two-time defending AFC champions this season, but his acclimation process took a hit this week. The Pats still have James White and Rex Burkhead, and the Mike Gillislee–Jeremy Hill roster battle becomes more interesting as well. The former Bengals back likely has the edge here, per NESN’s Doug Kyed (on Twitter).
Knee issues affected Michel during the lead-up to the draft, with The Ringer’s Michael Lombardi indicating some concern among teams existed because of a bone-on-bone condition in Michel’s left knee. Michel also has a torn ACL in his past, though that injury occurred back in high school.
The Patriots were obviously satisfied with Michel’s medical reports to take him in Round 1, the first time New England’s used a first-rounder on a running back since Laurence Maroney in 2006.
Patriots Work Out Cobi Hamilton
The Patriots have signed Eric Decker, but they’re not necessarily done signing wide receivers. On Friday, the Patriots auditioned Cobi Hamilton, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Patriots Sign WR Eric Decker]
It’s not immediately clear how serious the Pats are about Hamilton following the addition of Decker. Despite the release of Jordan Matthews, the likely forthcoming release of Malcolm Mitchell, and Julian Edelman‘s four-game ban, the Patriots are fairly deep at receiver.
Hamilton flashed at times during the 2016 season with the Steelers, but hasn’t done much since then. Last year, he spent some time with the Texans and finished out with just one catch in three games. This offseason, he was picked up by the Cardinals but was let go in June. Since entering the league as a sixth-round choice in 2013, Hamilton has spent time with seven different teams.
Patriots Notes: Hill, Gillislee, LaFell
After Jordan Matthews was released by the Patriots and Stefon Diggs signed a five-year, $72MM extension with the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (on Twitter) notes that timing is everything in the NFL.
- Running back Jeremy Hill still has a better chance of making the Patriots‘ final cut than fellow RB Mike Gillislee, Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes. Elsewhere in the mailbag, Kyed says that the odds of a Brandon LaFell reunion are slim after the team signed Eric Decker in free agency. We’d agree with that assessment, but anything is possible while rosters are at the 90-man maximum.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Cap Capi
- Waived/injured: DE Bryson Albright
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OL Korren Kirven, DE Joby Saint Fleur
- Waived: DE James Hearns, RB Trey Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Nick Callender
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Channing Stribling, WR Marcus Peterson
- Placed on IR: TE Austin Roberts
New England Patriots
- Waived/injured: G Nate Theaker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Bucky Hodges, OT Kyle Meadows
- Waived: LB Darnell Leslie, TE Ryan Malleck
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed CB Jeremy Boykins, LB Josh Forrest
- Waived: S Alex Carter, TE Je’Ron Hamm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale
- Waived: RB Dalton Crossan
Patriots To Sign WR Eric Decker
The Patriots will sign wide receiver Eric Decker, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal for the Pats and the former 1,000-yard receiver. 
The Pats are moving on from Jordan Matthews, and that leaves them with a potential need at wide receiver. The Patriots have an interesting group at the position with Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Braxton Berrios under contract, but they’re looking to shore up their depth as Edelman will miss the first four games of the season.
Decker lobbied for an opportunity with the Patriots this summer and finally got his wish. He had just 54 catches for just 563 yards and one touchdown with the Titans last year and missed most of 2016 with an injury, so he’s eager to get back on the right track.
In 2015, Decker’s last complete season, he hauled in 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Jets. He also had 1,000+ yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Broncos and nearly hit that mark in his first Jets season in 2014. There’s reason to believe that Decker can be a contributor for the Patriots, even if he’s not quite in his prime form.
Patriots Release WR Jordan Matthews
The Patriots announced that they’ve released wide receiver Jordan Matthews and signed fullback Henry Poggi. Although Field Yates of ESPN.com tweeted New England would placed Matthews on injured reserve, it appears the Patriots have simply cut the wideout.
The Pats signed Matthews to a one-year deal worth $1MM back in April. However, the pact was only partially guaranteed, so the Patriots won’t be left on the hook for much. Matthews collected on his $80K signing bonus, $130K offseason workout bonus, and $90K of his base salary, so he leaves New England with $300K altogether.
Matthews was also held back by injuries in 2017, so this is an unfortunate setback for the wide receiver. Prior to that, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles from 2014-16.
The release of Matthews leaves the Patriots a bit thin at wide receiver. They’ll be without Julian Edelman for the first four games of the season and the availability of Kenny Britt and Malcolm Mitchell is in question as they deal with ailments of their own. These issues could help to explain the team’s recent interest in free agent Eric Decker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/18
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
- Waived: OL Adam Bisnowaty
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Otha Peters
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Kendal Thompson
- Waived/Injured: WR Aaron Lacombe
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: TE/FB Shane Wimann
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton
- Waived: CB C.J. Goodwin
Patriots To Sign Brian Schwenke
The Patriots have agreed to sign offensive lineman Brian Schwenke, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Schwenke, a guard/center, spent the last five seasons with the Titans. 
Schwenke missed 23 regular season games from 2013-2015, but he has now turned in back-to-back 16-game seasons. It’s hard to say whether Schwenke is healthier, however, since he has played a whole lot less in the last two years. The 27-year-old started at center for all of his games from ’13-’15, but served as an interior line reserve in ’16 and ’17. Schwenke’s 148 offensive snaps last year were not enough to qualify for a ranking, but his 60.4 overall score from Pro Football Focus left much to be desired.
With the Pats, Schwenke will try to hook on as a backup behind starting guards Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason and center David Andrews.
Patriots Interested In Eric Decker
Wide receiver Eric Decker worked out for the Patriots on Monday, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Pats are dealing with some injury issues at wide receiver, so Decker could be a candidate to show his stuff in camp and potentially make the final roster.
The Patriots are already down one receiver for the first month of the season thanks to Julian Edelman‘s four-game suspension. Beyond that, Jordan Matthews, Malcolm Mitchell, and Kenny Britt are all dealing with ailments of their own. Mitchell seems unlikely to make the Pats’ final cut (and he could even be traded in the next few weeks), but the Patriots can ill afford to be short-handed at wide receiver if Matthews and Britt do not recover fully between now and September.
Enter Decker, who has openly lobbied for an opportunity with the Patriots this summer. Outside of spring meetings with the Ravens and Raiders, Decker’s market has been eerily quiet this offseason.
Decker was a late surprise cut by the Jets last year, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Titans. He fell a little flat in Tennessee, recording 54 catches for just 563 yards and one touchdown. Decker also missed most of 2016 due to injury, so the 31-year-old is now two years removed from being a high-end wide receiver.
In 2015, Decker’s last complete season, he hauled in 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Jets. He also had 1,000+ yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Broncos and nearly hit that mark in his first Jets season in 2014. If Decker can show at least some of his old form, he could be an interesting addition to the Patriots’ mix.
Pats High On Duke Dawson For Nickel Job?
- Despite being a two-time All-Pro return man, Cordarrelle Patterson‘s been a specialist on special teams. The former Vikings and Raiders returner has specialized in kick returns. Bill Belichick hinted at the possibility of Patterson being a punt returner with the Patriots as well, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes that hasn’t been the case in camp yet. Rookies Braxton Berrios and Riley McCarron have joined veterans Julian Edelman, Patrick Chung and Chris Hogan as the punt returners in Pats camp. Patterson has fielded precisely one punt in his five-year NFL career, so it shouldn’t surprise the Patriots confine him to kickoff returns.
- Second-round Pats pick Duke Dawson is in the mix to win the nickel cornerback job, Reiss tweets. Florida’s seen several corners warrant high draft choices in recent years, and this one has a chance to play alongside Stephon Gilmore on passing downs. Reiss tabs Eric Rowe as being slightly ahead of Jason McCourty for work as the other starting corner.
- Despite being a two-time All-Pro return man, Cordarrelle Patterson‘s been a specialist on special teams. The former Vikings and Raiders returner has specialized in kick returns. Bill Belichick hinted at the possibility of Patterson being a punt returner with the Patriots as well, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes that hasn’t been the case in camp yet. Rookies Braxton Berrios and Riley McCarron have joined veterans Julian Edelman, Patrick Chung and Chris Hogan as the punt returners in Pats camp. Patterson has fielded precisely one punt in his five-year NFL career, so it shouldn’t surprise the Patriots confine him to kickoff returns.
- Rookie Corey Bojorquez could push five-year incumbent Patriots punter Ryan Allen, per Reiss, who notes the New Mexico product probably has more natural talent than Allen. The sixth-year veteran has one year and $2MM remaining on an extension he signed in 2015.
- Former Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas latched on with the Patriots this spring, but New England released him last week. He’s still dealing with a sore knee stemming from a 2017 injury, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (subscription required). However, Howe adds his New England’s depth chart at tight end also contributed to the move.