Dell Pettus is headed to injured reserve, and just like that, the Patriots’ safety situation went from ‘questionable’ to a full-blown emergency ahead of their clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Head coach Mike Vrabel dropped the news even before the team hit the practice field on Wednesday, confirming Pettus’s move and the promotion of outside linebacker Jose Ramirez to the 53-man roster. Later, Brenden Schooler, a core special teams guy, finally made his practice comeback after starting the season on the non-football injury list. But let’s be real, the Pettus news is the real gut punch here.
The Secondary Is Shaken
Think about it: Sunday’s win over the Steelers cost the Pats not one, but *two* safeties, with both Pettus and Craig Woodson unable to finish the game. That’s a brutal blow in a physical matchup, and now we’re seeing the fallout. While Woodson, battling a shoulder injury, somehow remains on the active roster for now alongside Kevin Byard and Jaylen Reed, Pettus is gone for at least four games. The third-year man will miss huge matchups against the Jaguars, Bills, Raiders, and Jets. His earliest return won’t be until October 22 against the Bears. That means the Patriots’ depth at safety is about to get a serious, high-stakes test. Right now, it’s Kevin Byard (31), Craig Woodson (4), and Jaylen Reed (23) on the 53-man squad. Then there are practice squad guys Mike Brown (33) and Elliott Davison (27), plus Brenden Schooler (41) on NFI, and Pettus (24) on IR. Vrabel already hinted that practice squad safeties might see an increased role. So far, Brown and Davison haven’t been moved to the active roster, probably because they still have three standard elevations left. It just feels like they’re playing with fire here, doesn’t it?
Jaylen Reed: The Next Man Up, Or The Next Man *In*?
With Pettus out for a solid month, the spotlight is now blindingly bright on late-August trade acquisition Jaylen Reed. He’s projected to step into that third, or even potentially second, safety spot depending on what’s up with Craig Woodson’s shoulder. And honestly, it’s a huge ask for the guy. Vrabel, though, sounds like he’s got some faith. He said earlier this week, “I think Jaylen has done a nice job. He’s worked hard. He got put in there , we have to be ready to go. He had some plays that were good. He’s helped us in the kicking game. He would go in there at [punt protector], that’s not an easy thing to do. So, I’m glad that he was prepared and ready to go.” Let’s hope that preparation pays off, because they need him big time.
Ramirez Promotion Adds Edge Rush Relief
Interestingly, instead of bumping one of those practice squad safeties, the team promoted outside linebacker Jose Ramirez. This isn’t just a move to stop other teams from poaching the guy; it’s a direct response to edge rushers Dre’Mont Jones and Quintayvious Hutchins being absent from practice on Wednesday. If either, or both, of those guys can’t go against the Jaguars, the 27-year-old Ramirez would suddenly be one of only three healthy edges available. Talk about scrambling to cover your bases! It shows you just how quickly things can change and how much this team is juggling injuries right now.
The Patriots face the Jacksonville Jaguars next, and how their patched-up secondary and potentially thin edge rush handles Trevor Lawrence is gonna tell us everything. Let’s see if this team can rally under pressure.
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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