Tag Archives: Injury report

Brady and Gronk-Both Back at Full Strength

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Good News In New England on Thursday

The Patriots had a good practice yesterday, as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski were both removed from the injury report.  Tom Brady has been dealing with a knee injury, and has been limited at practice.

Rob Gronkowski has been fighting through ankle(s), and a a very concerning back injury. The future HOF Tight End has had back issues dating back to his college days, involving multiple surgeries.

Patriots Superstars Not Held Back In Thursdays Practice

Full participants

Via USA Today

The two Biggest Game-changers on the Patriots have been practicing, but both have been limited and listed on injury reports.  Thursday was a nice change of pace for the team and the fans, as both superstars were Full Participants.

Tom Brady’s participation has always been important, although Patriot fans have always known nothing would stop him from playing that week.

The Patriots can always count on Brady, but today’s news that he is completely off the injury report as a Full Participant is great to see.

Getting Healthy at The Perfect Time

Rob Gronkowski has been fighting through injuries his entire football career, this season in particular has been frustrating for him.

Unlike his quarterback, whenever Gronks name shows up on the injury report, the Patriots need to prepare as if he may not play that week.

Gronkowski’s back-Not holding him back this week

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The news that both players were full participants today is noteworthy, as New England is looking to clinch the division Sunday.

New England’s track record against Miami away from home has not been great during the Tom Brady era.  The Dolphins always play them tough, the Patriots can’t afford to drop a game in Miami as they often have.  New England is currently the number 2 seed behind KC, with the tiebreaker on their side.  So a win Sunday is very important if the Pats want home field throughout the playoffs.

Patrice Bergeorn

Boston Bruins: Patrice Bergeron Out With Injury

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The Black and Gold are looking pretty bruised up now with more news coming out about Patrice Bergeron. The center suffered a rib and sternoclavicular injury stemming from a hit he sustained in a recent game against the Dallas Stars on November 16th. He will be out of the lineup at least four weeks and will be re-evaluated at the time. The news couldn’t come at a worse time for the B’s as number 37 joins a growing list of injured players.

Patrice Bergeron

(Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Prior to the formal statement on Bergeron, the Bruins put up a huge effort recently against both Dallas and Arizona with a somewhat fractured team. Coach Bruce Cassidy did what he knows best; rearranged lines and got some good plays out of those players. Without many key players, Boston had to dig deep and called up some fresh-new faces. Defenseman Connor Clifton had it first NHL major fight as he nailed Dallas player Jason Spezza during a scrum. Jakob Zboril also made his NHL debut for the Bruins and landed three hits and a shot on goal.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dHLEqWg6y8&w=560&h=315]

During the Dallas game, Radek Faksa heavily checked Bergeron along the boards where he hit the wall hard with his left shoulder. The hit forced Bergeron off the ice during the second period. He did return,  however, he played gingerly on the ice. As the team headed into Arizona, Bergeron headed back to Boston to be initially evaluated.  As the Bruins continue on without their Captain and Alternate Captain, look for the team to recall more players from Providence.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHZi404YCg&w=560&h=315]

In case you need to keep count, here’s a list of injured players:

Patrice Bergeron

Brandon Carlo

Zdeno Chara

Charlie McAvoy

Kevan Miller

John Moore

Urho Vaakanainen

The Boston Bruins have recalled Providence forward Colby Cave who had appeared with Boston last season. The Black and Gold will be playing the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow night at the Little Caesars Arena with puck drop at 7:30 pm

 

Follow me on Twitter@ Pastagrl88

 

 

Michel is important for NEs SB chances

Sony Michel is a Vital Piece to Patriots Offense

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Sony Michel’s Importance to Patriots

Sony Michel has been one of the most important pieces in this Patriot offense. Since Week 2, all the rookie running back did was improve and get better each week. With injuries to Rex Burkhead and Jeremy Hill, suddenly the rookie was the main focal point.

Michel played his first NFL game in Week 2 and was still getting used to the offense and playbook. He didn’t have a preseason, but he used Weeks 2 and 3 to get himself acclimated to this complicated offense.

Week 4 Was The Turning Point

Of course, James White is still involved as he is on a historic pace for receptions by a running back. He isn’t the early down back this team needs, he’s perfect in his role. Adding more to Whites plate could result in another loss, to what was once a crowded backfield.

Running mates

Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

James White is teaching Michel everything he knows. It showed in a week 4 win over Miami. Sony Michel broke out for 112 yards on 25 carries averaging 4.48 yards per carry. Week 5 was more of the same as Michel rushed for 98 yards averaging 5.44 yards per carry. Michel scored a touchdown both weeks.

New England’s Offense is playing great football, using the ground game to set up the pass. When week 6 came it seemed obvious that Sony was worth the high draft pick. Sony Michel did not disappoint turning in a great game for the third week in a row, it was no fluke. The rookie rushed for 106 yards averaging 4.42 yards per carry, scoring two touchdowns as the Patriots kept their win streak going.

Patriots Offense Without Sony Michel

Sony Michel was looking like a seasoned veteran, riding a hot streak with 4 touchdowns in his last three games. While his counterpart James White was catching passes out of the backfield, New England’s running backs were playing at a very high level.

A scary situation

Sony Michel somehow dodges season ending bullet

Unfortunately just 4 rush attempts into week 7 against Chicago, Michel went down with what looked to be a season ending injury. All of New England held their breath as they watched this dynamic rookie get helped off the field. Fans and teammates fearful it could be the last time he played in 2018. During Sony’s absence during that game James White and Kenyon Barner stepped in and played well enough to contribute to the win. James White is a great running back, he’s not a guy who is going to take it 25 times a game and hit the hole. He has his own role carved out, and he’s done it better than anyone before him.

Sony Michel’s absence really showed up against the Bills on Monday Night. Barner was nowhere to be found, while White was still amazing as a pass catcher. New England was really missing the early down back Michel had turned into. Josh McDaniels used WR Cordarrelle Patterson and James White to fill Michel’s spot and it wasn’t pretty. Without Sony, this offense is very unbalanced, and the red zone may be where the rookie is missed most. Field goals instead of touchdowns were an issue Monday night, the Michel and White combo will change that.

To Play or Not to Play…What Will the Patriots Do?

New England needs Sony back to get those short yards on third down or in the red zone. He’s questionable for Week 9 against GB, his importance can’t be understated. I’m not sure if Bill Belichick is going to play him Sunday night, or if we won’t see him again until after the bye in week 12. Michel seems to be trending in the right direction and could quite possibly play against the Packers. New England knows the positive effect this rookie running back has on every single player on this team. So they will not rush him back if he’s not ready, he is the only early down back N.E has. When he does return, Sony will allow the offense to look like it did Weeks 4-6 and the offense will run much better than it did last week.

 

TNF Preview-Colts At Patriots

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Patriots and Colts kick off week 5

New England welcomes the Colts to Foxborough to start week 5 in a prime time showdown Thursday night. Indianapolis comes into this game following a long 70 minute loss to the Texans. With a 1-3 record the Colts season hangs in the balance just 4 games into the year. New England enters October at 2-2 after a 38-7 win over the Dolphins. Indy is banged up and New England is getting Edelman back, can Luck Win his first game against Brady?

Pats D needs to bring the pressure

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

KEYS TO THE GAME

New England has the luxury of playing at home on this short Week, with Julian Edelman making his return. Tom Brady now has Edelman and Gronk on the field together for the first time in 31 games. The Colts are missing T.Y Hilton, and are 0-5 vs the Pats with Luck starting at QB.

James White can do everything

(Staff Photo By Matt Stone/ Boston Herald)

No Need To Show To Much On Offense If Possible

The Patriots will need the offensive line to play well this week, not just for the running game, but to hold off the Colts pass rush. Last week the Offense showed improvement as Tom Brady got everyone involved, resulting in 24 points in the first half.

Finally Julian Edelman is back, he will help the Patriots Offense on third down which has been an issue for this team in 2018. Tonight this Patriots Offense will have all their weapons back, and New England hasn’t forgotten what the Colts started in 2014 about some footballs.

New England will once again get the running game going, they will try to jump out to an early lead and come out of this game unscathed. Expect to see more of the running backs, as I think the Patriots will look to run the ball early and often. This Colts team is coming in tired and banged up.

New England’s Defense Looks Improved

Historically New England has had to take T.Y Hilton out of the game with multiple players. Tonight that won’t be a problem as Hilton is out with a hamstring and chest injury.

The front seven needs to get after Luck, keep him in the pocket and force bad throws. Last week Patrick Chung and Trey Flowers returned and will be factors against Andrew Luck. Without his main target this week, expect the Colts to try to control the clock. Keeping Brady and the offense on the bench is always a smart play if you can do it.

Indianapolis has a speedy running back Nyheim Hines, who’s more of a receiving threat than a rusher. His name could be called a lot tonight on screen passes and wheel routes. New England’s Linebacker’s and safety’s will need to keep an eye on him. Without Hilton playing, the biggest receiving threat would be Eric Ebron who leads the colts in targets and red zone targets. I think tonight’s gameplan for New England is simple, no chunk plays, make Luck uncomfortable all while not showing to much.

Being very vanilla on defense and offense for the Patriots could be part of their plan. Knowing the Colts are coming here banged up, after a long overtime loss, without their best weapon. Keeping as much as they can off game film will benifit them moving forward. To do this, jumping out to a big lead is imperative. With a huge matchup next Sunday, staying healthy and not showing much if possible may be the gameplan. Although there is bad blood between these two teams, and Bill may want to try and make a statement. Belichick never forgets, same goes for Tom Brady.

Patriots vs Colts Prediction

My prediction for tonight’s game is not because I like one team better than the other. I’m looking at the facts, the injuries and history. Tom Brady is coming into this game, remembering what the Colts started which led to his suspension. He is at home, with Gronk, Edelman, Gordon and James White at his disposal. Sony Michel could come out and have a Jonas Gray game. I can’t see this Colts defense being able to keep up.

I believe the Patriots are still angry from “deflategate.” The Colts are coming into this game banged up, off a horrible overtime loss last week. Andrew Luck has never beat the Patriots and that will continue. Adding all of this up I have a big night from New England, winning 42-14.