Man, the New England Patriots are still deep in the injury woods. It does not look good for Sunday’s game, with four key players not even practicing on Wednesday in Foxborough: wide receiver Mack Hollins and cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Karon Prunty.
The Walking Wounded Did Not Participate
Dude, Mack Hollins, their top receiver right now, didn’t practice at all. Remember him hobbling off last Sunday during that 29-26 upset at Highmark Stadium? Calf injury, non-contact. Ouch. He had to leave on one leg in the third quarter. This guy has been leading the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. That’s a huge hit to their offense.
And the secondary? Forget about it. Christian Gonzalez, that extended All-Pro talent, is still out with his shoulder injury. This is his fourth straight missed session after not practicing last week and being ruled out for the last game. Then you got Carlton Davis III, dealing with a neck issue, though he did manage to play all 59 defensive snaps against the Buffalo Bills. Karon Prunty, the fifth-round pick who saw 18 snaps on special teams last week, is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. Three cornerbacks completely out of practice? That’s a nightmare for any defensive coordinator.
The Halfway Crew Shows Up Limited
But wait, there’s more. The “limited participation” list is almost as scary, with nine guys on it to start the week. Rhamondre Stevenson, the starting running back, was out there, but on a limited basis because of that knee injury he picked up on the final drive in Orchard Park. He was big in that game against the Bills, putting up 47 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion before he limped off. You need your starting back fully healthy, especially with his production.
Then Christian Barmore, the defensive tackle. He’s been battling a shoulder issue that kept him out for three straight practices and even made him inactive. But Coach Vrabel hinted he “may do some things,” and Barmore was back on hand, albeit limited. That’s a tiny ray of hope. Still, the list goes on: fullback Reggie Gilliam (ankle, knee), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder), linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), cornerback Charles Woods (shoulder), cornerback Channing Canada (hamstring), and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder). This is a deep list of guys not at 100%, and it shows just how banged up this team is heading into the week.
So, the Patriots are definitely limping into Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders. How are they gonna piece this together, especially in the secondary and with their top receiver and starting running back banged up? This early in the season, you don’t want these kinds of injury reports piling up. Gotta keep an eye on who actually suits up for kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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