Tag: New England Patriots
Patriots place LB Oshane Ximines (knee) on IR ahead of Jets game
The New England Patriots placed linebacker Oshane Ximines on injured reserve on Wednesday because of a knee injury and signed rookie defensive end Jamree Kromah from the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.
Ximines missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday and had been ruled out of the Patriots’ game Thursday night against the host New York Jets. He was injured during New England’s overtime loss in Week 2 to the visiting Seattle Seahawks.
Ximines, 27, played in both games for the Patriots this season and made one tackle. In parts of five seasons for the New York Giants (2019-23), he had 71 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 48 games (nine starts).
The Giants had selected Ximines in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Old Dominion and released him last November. The Patriots signed him as a free agent in April.
Kromah, 24, signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison after four seasons at Rutgers. He was released at the end of training camp on Aug. 27 and re-signed the next day to the Bears’ practice squad.
On the injury report for Thursday’s game, the Patriots (1-1) had listed Ximines out along with offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (knee), guard Sidy Sow (ankle) and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who reportedly will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Center David Andrews (hip), offensive lineman Mike Onwenu (wrist), defensive end Deatrich Wise (shoulder) and safety Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) are questionable for the game.
The Jets (1-1) listed linebacker Jermaine Johnson II, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, as out, and linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) as questionable.
–Field Level Media
After Week 1 win, Patriots aim to remain focused vs. Seahawks
There’s no more time for celebration for New England Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo.
Mayo came away with a victory in his debut, but he is far from content as New England prepares to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.
The Patriots (1-0) stunned the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, holding them to 13 first downs and 224 yards of total offense in a 16-10 win. Rhamondre Stevenson shined for New England, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Although the Patriots made few mistakes against Cincinnati, Mayo believes there is plenty of room for improvement.
“From an individual perspective, the biggest jump you should see out of your players is from Year 1 to Year 2, or Week 1 to Week 2,” Mayo said. “I would say this week, not to look back at Cincinnati, but there are a lot of plays that we left out there. I think the players recognize that.
“Once you go to Week 2, we expect everyone to be better. … And I did let them know, ‘What got us the win in Week 1 won’t get us the win in Week 2 if we don’t continue to improve.’”
Taking things one step at a time is something that Seattle coach Mike Macdonald has also been emphasizing.
“It’s about each practice,” Macdonald said. “You can’t have a great Thursday if you don’t have a good Wednesday.”
Macdonald, also in his first season at the helm, coached the Seahawks (1-0) to a 26-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 1. Like New England, Seattle leaned on its rushing attack, getting 103 yards and a TD on 20 carries from Kenneth Walker III. Quarterback Geno Smith also ran for a score.
Walker might struggle to get going against the Patriots, though, as New England allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the league last week (70). That is of course if Walker plays, as the 23-year-old did not practice on Wednesday due to an oblique injury.
“Very well-coached, obviously, but they play tough, they have good players, they play hard,” Macdonald said of the Patriots. “All the fundamentals, just go right down the list — check, check, check. Play square, get off blocks, what it takes to play really good run defense. Numbers back it up, tape backs it up.
“So we got a great challenge ahead of us.”
With Sunday marking the home opener for New England, the Seahawks will also have to contend with a Patriots fan base that is starting to feel a renewed sense of optimism after sitting through a 4-13 season in 2023.
Still, Seattle enters the meeting with New England as the favorite.
“They don’t really talk about that,” Mayo said of his players discussing the Patriots’ underdog status. “This goes back to the whole motivation conversation. It’s about discipline.”
Guard Sidy Sow is dealing with an ankle injury and was the only player to miss New England’s practice on Wednesday. Running back Antonio Gibson (hip), safety Jabrill Peppers (hip), linebacker Joshua Uche (foot) and defensive end Deatrich Wise (shoulder) were among those limited.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury. Offensive tackle George Fant (knee) and linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) didn’t practice for Seattle on Wednesday.
Seven Seahawks were limited in practice, including receiver Tyler Lockett (thigh), tight end Noah Fant (toe) and cornerbacks Tre Brown (quadricep) and Riq Woolen (hamstring).
–Field Level Media
Patriots pull upset, beat Bengals in Jerod Mayo’s debut
CINCINNATI — New England avoided mistakes and controlled the ball to upset the Bengals, 16-10, to win head coach Jerod Mayo’s debut on Sunday afternoon.
Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and Keion White had 2.5 sacks, leading a strong defensive effort that stunted Cincinnati’s big-pay offense.
Joey Slye converted three field goals, including two in the second half that prevented the Bengals from closing within more than six points. New England sacked Burrow three times and capitalized on two turnovers.
Joe Burrow was held to 164 yards on 21-of-29 passing and no touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase had six catches on six targets for 62 yards.
Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 15 of 14 passes for 121 yards.
Following a team-record 80-yard punt from rookie Ryan Rehkow, the Patriots marched down the field for the first points of the game, a 3-yard Stevenson run into the end zone untouched for a 7-0 Patriots lead on the first play of the second quarter.
Tanner Hudson caught a Burrow pass and was running toward the goal line when Patriots safety Kyle Dugger stripped the ball at the Patriots 2. Marcus Jones returned it to the New England 18. The Patriots pushed the ball to the Cincinnati 14 over the final five minutes of the half and added to their lead with a 32-yard Slye field goal to grab a 10-0 advantage.
Slye added another field goal and gave the Patriots a 13-0 lead after recovering a fumble by Patriots return man Charlie Jones.
The Bengals finally broke through with a nine-play, 90-yard drive in the third quarter. Running back Zack Moss plunged in for a 5-yard score up the middle after Burrow had last a fumble at the 10, recovered by the Patriots. But Burrow was ruled down before the ball came out.
Burrow dropped to 1-4 in season openers.
–Field Level Media
Patriots special teams veteran Cody Davis announces retirement
New England Patriots veteran special teams player Cody Davis announced his retirement on social media Thursday after 11 seasons in the NFL.
Davis, 34, played safety but primarily competed on special teams for the St. Louis/ Los Angeles Rams (2013-17), Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-19) and Patriots (2020-23). The undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech totaled 118 tackles in 144 games (five starts for Los Angeles) and scored his lone career touchdown last season on a fumble return in a 26-23 win over the host Denver Broncos on Dec. 24.
“God blessed me in not only the athletic ability to play football but also provided the protection, timing, opportunities, and support in order for me to live out my dream of playing in the NFL for 11 years,” Davis wrote on Twitter. “I have given everything to all that I did and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’”
Davis, from Stephenville, Texas, thanked his family, coaches and teams from high school through the NFL, staffs, medical personnel, teachers, fans and the cities in which he played. He also was gracious for his philanthropic opportunities to help communities.
“Honored as 1 of 15 NFF National Scholars-Athletes,” Davis wrote. “Earned my masters degree in data science. Created a charity program for Boston Children’s Hospital and won their Champions Award. Recognized as NFLPA Community Player of the Week. All of these accolades I hold close to my heart more than any athletic achievement. I’m proud of being able to not only play football but also volunteer, give, love, and serve with every team and in every city we have lived in along this journey.”
–Field Level Media
Report: Patriots plan to take time to hire GM
The New England Patriots appear to be in no rush to fill the vacant general manager position in the wake of the departure of former head coach Bill Belichick, CBS Sports reported on Saturday.
Per the report, the Patriots have made no effort to interview external candidates for the vacant position.
The Patriots haven’t had a general manager since Belichick was hired in January 2000. According to league rules, the GM position can be left vacant all season.
Recent reported front office hires and comments by team owner Robert Kraft suggest the Patriots are more concerned about the short-term when it comes to executive positions.
Earlier this week, Eliot Wolf was promoted from scouting director to the No. 1 executive in charge of personnel, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
Wolf, 41, whose title is unclear, will have control of the 53-man roster while working closely with new head coach Jerod Mayo, according to reports. Wolf joined the Patriots in 2020 as a consultant before later being elevated to director of scouting in 2022.
Also this week, Alonzo Highsmith left the Miami Hurricanes to join the New England Patriots as a senior personnel executive.
Highsmith, who turns 59 later this month, has been the general manager of football operations for the Hurricanes the past two seasons. His addition reunites him with Wolf, with whom he worked at Green Bay and Cleveland earlier in their careers.
In other moves, director of player personnel Matt Groh is expected to run college scouting and Pat Stewart will have a leading role, per NFL Network.
In January, while introducing Mayo, Kraft indicated that Belichick’s influence over the past two-plus decades translates to a lot of existing in-house experience for the Patriots’ front office.
“We have a lot of people internally who have had a chance to train and learn under the greatest coach of all time and a man whose football intellect is very special,” Kraft said last month, when asked who will be handing out contracts and making draft picks.
“So, in the short-term, we’re looking for collaboration… We’re counting on our internal people, whom we’re still learning and evaluating. So, we’re going to let that evolve and develop, and before the key decisions have to be made, we will appoint someone.”
However, Kraft did not specifically say what position someone would be appointed to, and Wolf has yet to be officially introduced.
–Field Level Media
Report: Pats not picking up Mac Jones’ 5th-year option
The New England Patriots will not pick up quarterback Mac Jones’ fifth-year option for the 2025 season, MassLive.com reported on Tuesday.
The deadline for NFL teams to exercise their options for first-round picks from the 2021 NFL Draft is May 2.
Jones, who has regressed after a solid 2021 rookie season and was benched multiple times in 2023, would then become a free agent after the 2024 season.
Picking up the option would put the Pats on the hook for an estimated $23 million in guaranteed salary in 2025. Instead, New England will attempt to trade Jones, 25, this offseason, per the report.
Jones was the No. 15 overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama. He made the Pro Bowl and went 10-7 in his first season, passing for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Over the past two seasons, however, Jones is 8-17 as New England’s starter with 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Bailey Zappe, undrafted in 2022, wound up starting six games for the Patriots during head coach Bill Belichick’s final season with the franchise in 2023.
–Field Level Media
Bills close on clinching clinching playoff spot while Patriots face questions
Back in early September, the Buffalo Bills appeared to have the makings of a team that would be contending for the No. 1 seed in the AFC by the time the penultimate week of the regular season rolled around.
But Buffalo has come up short of its lofty expectations on the heels of four consecutive trips to the postseason, with a fifth still not yet guaranteed.
Although they have won four of their past five games, the Bills are still very much in the thick of the playoff race heading into a Week 17 meeting with the New England Patriots on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Even though the top spot in the AFC is unattainable at this point, Buffalo (9-6) can secure a postseason berth as early as this week.
The Bills head into Sunday’s game with 14 clinching scenarios, all requiring a win or tie. Buffalo would then need help from at least two other teams in each scenario.
While it might be easy to get caught up in the playoff picture, Bills coach Sean McDermott’s only focus is on New England (4-11), which beat Buffalo 29-25 on Oct. 22.
“I think you learn a lot going through any game, let alone in this case a loss like it was several weeks ago,” McDermott said. “They’re a good football team. … The NFL is up for grabs every week. Records do not matter.”
In a season that has featured plenty of lows, the Patriots have found a bit of a rhythm, winning two of their past three games in response to a five-game skid.
New England most recently edged the Denver Broncos 26-23 last Sunday thanks to Chad Ryland’s go-ahead 56-yard field goal with 2 seconds left in regulation.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick realizes the Bills have just as much momentum — if not more — following their 24-22 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 23.
“Games they’ve won, they’ve made some critical plays in all three phases of the game — offense, defense, special teams — to win,” Belichick said of the Bills. “So, that’s the mark of a good team.
“Three weeks ago, everybody was talking about how much trouble they were in, then they come out and rip off three straight wins. So, here we are.”
While Buffalo continues its playoff push, New England is trying to prevent itself from jumping the gun on the 2024 campaign.
The Patriots appear to be on the brink of a drastic rebuild, with Boston Sports Journal reporting Tuesday that Belichick has expressed doubts about his future with the franchise.
There’s also the question of who New England’s starting quarterback will be at this time next year. Bailey Zappe has played well after taking over under center for Mac Jones, but the Patriots are also in line for a high draft pick that could yield a franchise signal-caller.
“Right now, I’m just trying to be where my feet are and focus on the Bills,” Zappe said. “I’m sure those conversations and things like that will happen in the offseason or after the Jets game (on Jan. 7), and I’ll talk about that then.”
Offensive tackle Trent Brown (illness), cornerback Jalen Mills (concussion) and safety Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) missed New England’s practice on Wednesday. Tight end Hunter Henry (knee) was among nine Patriots who were limited.
Buffalo defensive end Leonard Floyd missed Wednesday’s practice due to wrist and rib injuries. Safety Micah Hyde (neck) was among those limited.
–Field Level Media
Patriots place RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) on IR
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s season ended Wednesday, as he was placed on injured reserve because of a sprained right ankle.
Stevenson has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain after being tackled by Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu in the first quarter of Los Angeles’ 6-0 victory on Dec. 3. Tuipulotu also recovered Stevenson’s fumble on the play.
Stevenson, 25, started the first 12 games of the season for the Patriots, rushing 156 times for 619 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 4.0 yards per attempt and 51.6 per game.
He also caught 38 passes for 238 yards.
The Patriots selected Stevenson in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. For his career, Stevenson has 499 rushing attempts for 2,265 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has 121 receptions for 782 yards and one TD.
Veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott, 28, has started three games in place of Stevenson. Elliott has 549 yards and two touchdowns on 157 carries in 15 games this season.
In another move Wednesday, the Patriots signed tight end La’Michael Pettway to the practice squad.
New England (4-11) has two games remaining. It faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday before wrapping up its season against the New York Jets on Jan. 7.
–Field Level Media
