The New England Patriots are hitting the practice field without three key players from their active roster, and it is a brutal hit to their defense. Outside linebackers Dre’Mont Jones and Quintayvious Hutchins, plus safety Craig Woodson, all sat out Wednesday’s session as the Pats prep for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Remember Jones? Yeah, that is the same guy who sacked our QB Sam Darnold back in that early September game at Lumen Field. Seeing him sidelined is a stark reminder that even the guys making big plays can get taken out.
New England’s Defensive Lineup Is Getting Thin
This is a major headache for New England, coming right after guard Mike Onwenu and safety Dell Pettus landed on injured reserve earlier this week. Jones, who plays a critical edge position, exited their last game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and was quickly downgraded to out. Woodson, a starter in the secondary, also did not finish that 20-3 win, taking a shoulder injury of his own. And Hutchins, a 2026 draft pick, managed three tackles before a knee injury shelved him. That is three defensive starters, including the guy who was getting after our signal caller, all out for practice. Talk about a unit that is suddenly looking real vulnerable.
Limited Returns, Lingering Issues
While those three were total non-participants, the Patriots did see five players in limited roles. Fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee), tight end Eli Raridon (thigh), offensive tackles Morgan Moses (foot) and Dametrious Crownover (knee) all had limited work. Raridon, a rookie, actually pulled in a 30-yard pass last Sunday before his thigh injury. Safety Brenden Schooler (back) was also a limited participant, with his 21-day practice window opening. He spent all of training camp on the non-football injury list and cannot be activated until after the initial four regular season games. The good news for them? Veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck), who missed last weekend’s opener and started all 17 games last season, was a full participant on Wednesday. But one full return does not erase the mountain of defensive injuries stacking up for the Patriots.
The Patriots will need to figure things out fast as they get ready to face the Jaguars this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Stadium. With so many key defensive pieces either out or limited, you have to wonder how they are going to stop anything. It is early in the season, and injuries are already shaping teams’ trajectories, even for the ones we do not root for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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