With several core players unavailable, the New England Patriots were teetering entering Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. They ended up losing with a final score of 15-10 to drop a league-leading fourth straight contest, but they did receive some good news for a change: they did not appear to be suffering any big new injuries.
With that said, let’s take a look at the damage after re-watching the contest.
Injury analysis
QB Jacoby Brissett: The Patriots’ starting quarterback is becoming a weekly constant on this list. On Sunday, he again was involved in multiple collisions including one that left him limping quite noticeably: on an incomplete pass in the late fourth quarter he absorbed a hit by linebacker Jordyn Brooks, and was once more slow to get up. Brissett did stay in the game, though, and played its final 13 snaps without any visible limitations.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: One play after Brissett was shaken up, Stevenson was slow to get up following an 11-yard carry. He first tried to limp off the field, not trying to put any pressure on his left leg. Trainers then came onto the field to check him out, and he eventually walked off the field under his own power. Stevenson remained on the sidelines instead of going to the blue medical tent, and reentered the game five plays later.
What this means for the Patriots
The Patriots were bitten repeatedly by the injury bug over the first four weeks of the season, and Week 5 was a much-needed respite in that regard. Neither Brissett nor Stevenson, after all, seemed to take away any major injuries from the game.
The first practice of the week on Wednesday, plus the subsequent injury report, will give us more clarity as far as their statuses are concerned. Still, the team for once appears to be coming out of a game without any serious news concerns (if we ignore safety Jabrill Peppers’ legal issues following an arrest on Saturday).
Of course, that also does not mean that previous injuries suddenly are no longer a factor. The Patriots, after all, did enter Week 5 with 12 players listed on their injury report, including two — safety Kyle Dugger and wide receiver K.J. Osborn — who were ultimately unable to play against the Dolphins.
As noted above, Wednesday presents their first chance to return to the field. The Patriots will host the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
