There isn’t much hope for the New England Patriots on the injury front these days.
They just lost two of their best defensive players, Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon, in the same football game. All of their starting cornerbacks are out with injuries, and right tackle is a revolving door of random bodies just trying to make it work.
Buy Patriots TicketsThe good news is the Patriots are past the four-game mark, which means multiple players on injured reserve and the physically unable to perform lists are eligible to return this week.
Any return would feel like a boost at this point with the Patriots sitting at 1-3 and looking up at a seemingly impossible hill to climb in the AFC East division.
Here are the five players eligible to return for the Patriots this week.
Tyquan Thornton (IR)
There was hope that 2023 would be a breakout year for Patriots’ second-year wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, but an injury pumped the brakes on those plans.
Getting him back on the field would give Mac Jones another offensive weapon, assuming he can create separation. Thornton has fallen into the same category as some of the other receivers on the roster. He’ll flash big-play potential every now and then, before disappearing entirely over long stretches.
The Patriots are in desperate need of that offensive playmaker that commands the respect of opposing defenses. Thornton has the physical make-up to be that guy. We’ll see if he can put the pieces together on the football field.
CB Jack Jones (IR)
Jack Jones returning for the Patriots would be a significant turn of events.
Things are so thin in the Patriots’ defensive backfield that the team went out and traded for Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson on Wednesday. Christian Gonzalez is likely done for the season, Marcus Jones is on injured reserve and Jonathan Jones has missed multiple games with an ankle injury.
The unit is in desperate need of help right now, and the combination of Jackson and Jack Jones would go a long ways towards patching the secondary. But the team might have to wait a little while longer. Jones isn’t expected to return for another two weeks.
Jack Jones is expected to be at least two more weeks away from playing, per source. Initial expectation was an absence of about two months, so no surprise here. https://t.co/x6MrMtQa2u
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) October 5, 2023
It’s more bad news for a Patriots team that is becoming used to it at this point.
OL Riley Reiff (IR)
Help could be coming at offensive tackle if veteran Riley Reiff is able to get back on the field. The Patriots likely had him pegged as their starting right tackle from the very beginning since they gave him $4.150 million in guaranteed money.
Reiff obviously isn’t the long-term answer in New England, but he could provide a decent veteran presence at a position failing to youth and inexperience.
Mac Jones would certainly welcome the change considering he’s been running for his life over the last couple of games. The offense won’t get on track until the Patriots fix their right tackle situation.
DL Trey Flowers (PUP)
Trey Flowers was the Patriots’ best pass-rusher before Matthew Judon walked through the doors. His contributions helped lead the team to two Super Bowl victories.
With Judon sidelined, the opportunity is wide open for Flowers to step back into that role as a premier pass-rusher for the Patriots. Things didn’t work out in previous stops in Detroit and Miami, but Flowers clearly excelled in Bill Belichick’s defense the last time he was in New England.
But how much gas does the now 30-year-old defensive player have left in the tank? The Patriots are hoping plenty with their current situation reaching levels of desperation.
ST Cody Davis (PUP)
Cody Davis has been a dependable special teams contributor for the Patriots when healthy. So his potential return would be a major addition to the unit this season.
Special teams has never been more important for the Patriots with all of their ongoing offensive struggles. It isn’t just about scoring points, either. The Patriots need to do better at winning the battle of field position.
Davis is a reliable veteran player that would give them a boost in that area, among others.
