Patriots List Two Linebackers Out for Week 3 Against Jaguars
The short version
- Linebackers Dre'Mont Jones (shoulder) and Quintayvious Hutchins (knee) are ruled out for Week 3.
- Tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) is questionable after missing practice Thursday and Friday.
- Quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots' key fantasy skill players are absent from the injury report.
- Safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) is questionable; Brenden Schooler and Carlton Davis III carry no game designations.
New England's defense absorbed the biggest health blows ahead of Sunday's meeting with Jacksonville, while the offense heads in near full strength.
The New England Patriots head into Sunday's Week 3 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars carrying a long injury report that reaches across offense and defense. According to the team's Friday report, however, nearly every fantasy-relevant player on the roster avoided serious trouble.
The defensive side carries the heaviest losses. Linebacker Dre'Mont Jones will not play because of a shoulder injury that kept him off the practice field all week. Linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins is also unavailable after a knee problem sidelined him for every session before Sunday.
Several other defenders are trending toward playing. Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones sat out Wednesday for a personal reason unrelated to injury, then practiced fully Thursday and Friday, leaving him on track to appear. Safety Craig Woodson is questionable with a shoulder issue after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday and working in a limited capacity Friday. Safety Brenden Schooler was limited all three days with a back ailment but carries no game designation, and cornerback Carlton Davis III practiced in full throughout the week despite a listed neck injury.
Up front, the offensive line has a set of concerns that appear minor. Tackle Morgan Moses was limited all week by a foot injury but has no game status, an indication he is expected to play. Tackle Dametrious Crownover, dealing with a knee issue, moved from limited work to full participation as the week went on. Fullback Reggie Gilliam was limited each day with a knee problem yet also escaped a questionable tag.
Tight end Eli Raridon is the most prominent offensive player listed as questionable. A thigh injury limited him Wednesday and then kept him off the field entirely Thursday and Friday. He has played only a small role in the passing attack through two weeks, so even in deep fantasy leagues his potential absence carries little consequence, though it could open additional snaps for the team's other healthy tight ends.
For fantasy managers, the broader takeaway is that no genuine difference-maker appears on the report. Quarterback Drake Maye, New England's established starter, is not listed at all, and neither are the primary running backs and wide receivers who hold meaningful fantasy value. Managers relying on the Patriots' skill-position players can start them as planned in Week 3.
The linebacker absences matter most for anyone streaming the New England defense in daily fantasy formats. Missing two linebackers could soften the team's run defense against a Jacksonville offense expected to lean on the ground game, making the Patriots' D/ST a somewhat riskier play than earlier this season, though not enough to remove them from most streaming consideration.
Beyond health, the larger question for New England's skill players remains usage and game flow. With several linemen nursing minor injuries at tackle and inside, pass protection is worth watching as a factor in Maye's floor, particularly if Jacksonville's rushers get pressure early. Still, assuming no surprise inactives before kickoff, the Patriots' offense looks close to full strength for fantasy purposes.
New England visits Jacksonville on Sunday, September 27, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM EDT at EverBank Stadium. The game airs on CBS.
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