Injuries are starting to pile up, but the Patriots are 10-2 on the season and riding a nine-game winning streak.
With a Monday night matchup with the Giants on the horizon, let’s open up the mailbag to answer your Patriots questions.
@jorge_utd: Doug with the injuries piling up, which players currently in free agency, recently released, or on other teams’ practice squads do you think would be realistic fits for the Patriots right now? Any names that match their biggest roster holes? #MailDoug
The Patriots did add two veteran offensive linemen on Tuesday, signing offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. to their 53-man roster off the Browns’ practice squad and guard Bill Murray to their practice squad.
The Patriots briefly had Munford on their practice squad at the beginning of the season before he was signed away by the Browns. He has starting experience at left and right tackle and worked under Josh McDaniels with the Raiders. It seems like a nice move to bring him back after Will Campbell suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s win over the Bengals. I wouldn’t expect Munford to necessarily start over Vederian Lowe or Marcus Bryant, but he provides additional depth and has valuable starts under his belt. At the very least, he’s better depth than Caedan Wallace, who moved to guard this summer, or Sebastian Gutierrez, who’s on the practice squad.
Murray doesn’t have as much experience, but he has a history with the Patriots and will provide depth at guard with Jared Wilson battling an ankle injury. The team also has center Brenden Jaimes and guard/tackle Andrew Rupcich on their practice squad. Wallace could be counted on to be active for the first time all season Monday night as a backup behind Ben Brown and Mike Onwenu.
@gcabreu87: Is it just my impression, or is Gonzo not having a great season? If you agree, what would be the main reason? Defensive system? Lack of effort? And if you disagree, why am I getting this impression?
I think some of it is usage. The Patriots were in man coverage on 42.7% of snaps in 2024, per Sumer Sports. They’ve been in man coverage on just 28.7% of snaps this season. So, it gives Gonzalez fewer opportunities to make plays in tight coverages.
He also missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury and might have been a little bit rusty coming back from it after barely practicing during training camp.
Last season, Gonzalez earned a 76.0 overall PFF grade in 978 snaps, allowing 46 catches on 84 targets for 499 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and seven pass breakups for a 70.5 passer rating against. He also made 12 defensive stops.
This season, Gonzalez has already made 13 defensive stops in 511 snaps, performing better as a run defender and tackler. He’s earned a 63.7 overall PFF grade, allowing 26 catches on 54 targets for 276 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and five pass breakups for a 69.7 passer rating against.
So, the numbers really aren’t that different. He had three penalties last year and has three penalties this season.
The interceptions are down, and he’s allowing more yards per snap, but he’s still be a very valuable defender for the Patriots. We might be having a different conversation if he didn’t allow a touchdown to Mitch Tinsley on Sunday against the Bengals. He had been doing a nice job shutting down Tee Higgins.
@DrakeMVPMaye: Can V Lowe play at a higher end level with better coaching from Marrone and scheme help from JMD? What changes do they make to the offense to help this?
I think Lowe can be better since the Patriots now have better coaching and better players around him. Josh McDaniels is someone who’s always got the best out of his offensive linemen with the Patriots, and Doug Marrone, Jason Houghtaling and Robert Kugler have done a nice job as positional coaches this season.
Lowe struggled mightily in 2023 when he was asked to play right tackle with Adrian Klemm as his offensive line coach and Bill O’Brien as his offensive coordinator. He was better in 2024 as a left tackle, his more natural position, under offensive line coach Scott Peters and OC Alex Van Pelt.
I’m really curious to see how much better coaching and overall talent can help him, if he’s called on to fill in for Campbell. Mike Vrabel left the door open for the team to stick Bryant at left tackle.
@L68413lawr___: Do you think the team is in a position to trade their 1st round pick for a star in the offseason (AJ Brown, Crosby, etc) or do we need the young cost controlled talent more?
I would say yes, depending on how far the Patriots get this season. If the Patriots can trade a first-round pick in the high 20s or even 30s for an impact player like A.J. Brown or Maxx Crosby, and if they believe they could push them over the edge into true Super Bowl contention, then they would have to consider it.
First-round picks are valuable. But if the Patriots make a deep playoff run, then lesser talent will be available when they’re picking.
@ManiacalMayeFan: How far do you think we realistically make it?
The NFL seems wide open right now. I don’t know if there’s a cap to how far they can make it this season.
Ultimately, I still think it’s unfair to predict them to make or win a Super Bowl. This is a team that wasn’t even supposed to be guaranteed to win nine games, and they’re sitting at 10-2. They’ve already exceeded expectations, and no one thought they could compete for a Super Bowl one year into Vrabel’s tenure.
Now, if they beat the Bills and Ravens, then the conversation shifts. But for now, I think they can win a playoff game. Anything more than that is gravy.
@CMO_gg: Bradbury – this our long term center? Guy has been a great signing.
I still think Wilson is probably the Patriots’ long-term center, but I would pencil in Bradbury as the Patriots’ starting center next year. They signed him to a two-year, $9.5 million contract in the offseason, and he has exceeded expectations.
There’s no reason to move on from Bradbury after this season. They should let him play out his contract.
@thatghosthouse: What is on your Thanksgiving plate Doug?
The plan is to have two types of turkey (roasted and smoked), mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole. We’ve had macaroni and cheese and cornbread stuffing in the past, as well. And I’ll have a slice of all the desserts. I think the plan is to have pumpkin pie, Oreo cheesecake pie and maybe one or two more.