New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots are gearing up for their upcoming wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in what they are hoping will be the start of a lengthy playoff run. However, the team’s injury situation is beginning to become a legitimate concern.
For much of the season, the Pats have managed to stay relatively healthy, and they just got Milton Williams and Will Campbell back from injured reserve for their regular-season finale vs. the Miami Dolphins. An illness appears to be running rampant in the team’s locker room at the worst possible time, though.
On Wednesday, four different players missed practice due to an illness. Two of those players were Morgan Moses and Anfernee Jennings, who returned to practice on Thursday. However, Garrett Bradbury and Vederian Lowe, the other two aforementioned players, were joined by fellow offensive lineman Thayer Munford, as the illness continues to spread.
Khyiris Tonga also missed his second straight practice, as he continues to deal with a lingering foot injury. Elsewhere, Jared Wilson remained in a red non-contact jersey, indicating he has not yet fully cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Who ends up suiting up for the team’s practice on Friday has suddenly become a very important situation to monitor. Being without Bradbury would be a massive loss, as he’s anchored the team’s offensive line at the center position this season. Lowe and Munford are key depth pieces on the o-line, and Tonga is one of the team’s most versatile players.
For the most part, New England’s key players are healthy for the time being, but the depth on both the offensive and defensive line is in rough shape. All eyes will be on the team on Friday to see who ends up taking the field in the final practice before this important contest.
