The attrition of an NFL season is beginning to catch up with New England’s defense.
For Sunday’s game in New Orleans, Mike Vrabel said he won’t have Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring), Keion White (elbow) or Anfernee Jennings (ankle), while the questionable designation has been given to Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), Marte Mapu (hamstring/neck) and Charles Woods (undisclosed).
Gonzalez‘s return to the injury report is eyebrow-raising, given the cornerback was sidelined for two months with a hamstring issue before returning in Week 4. He wasn’t given an injury designation in Buffalo last week.
“We’ll continue to monitor him and see where that goes,” Vrabel said. “Try to make a decision at 10:30 central time, 90 minutes before the game. So that’s where we’re at. We’ll have to have a plan if he doesn’t go, and we’ll have a plan if he does go.”
With two edge players out in Jennings and White, Vrabel acknowledged the team will likely need to elevate somebody from the practice squad. That could be Harvard’s Truman Jones, who has worked his way into Vrabel’s good graces.
“I’m not supposed to have favorites, but I would say Truman is close to the list — if I had one," Vrabel smiled. “He’s an extremely hard worker. I would say every time we have a (scout team) player of the week on the offense or special teams, he’s probably been one of those two, if not both, throughout the year. So he’s done a nice job. He prepares as a starter each and every week. I just think he’s continuing to develop and we’d be comfortable if we had to play him.”
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