Patriots - Ravens week 16 injury reports and updates

Mike Reiss @MikeReiss
Rookie WRs Aaron Dobson (foot) and Kenbrell Thompkins (hip) are present at practice. Looks like they are close to a return to action.

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Mike Petraglia @Trags
Nate Solder and Josh Boyce not at #Patriots practice on main stadium field in sweats and shells while Thompkins and Dobson were present

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. @jeffphowe: In related news, Thompkins was really explosive in that drill, too, so that's a great sign for his hip injury.

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KontradictioN said:

The OL has the potential to be an epic disaster, though. Mankins will be playing out of position, Kline will be LG, Wendell sucks big time, Connolly should be a starting C but is playing RG out of need, and Cannon may be able to hold his own at RT.

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BradyManny said:

I think we're both on the same page that the OL has been pretty bad for huge stretches this season. Even when we were running quick passing stuff last game Brady was getting pressured.

This week has potential for disaster, I agree, but Mankins at LT might turn out to be OK. In limited time, and paying a limited amount of attention to him the other day, I thought he looked decent. Given Solder had been struggling in the weeks leading up to this, I don't think we'll see a big dropoff at that position. Obviously, Mankins to Kline at LG hurts tremendously, though.

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KontradictioN said:

My concern isn't really Mankins at LT as much as it is Kline at LG. Wendell already sucked at picking up stunts even with Mankins there to save his bacon a lot of the time. It should be even worse with Kline playing LG next to him. The interior OL has been disgustingly bad for huge stretches this season.

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Patjew said:

Brady was getting destroyed at the end of the Fins game. It's only due to his awesome awesomeness (and quick reads and throws) that every play wasn't a sack.

Suggs and Elvis are very excited.

What happened to Boyce?

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juny said:

Already saw some of that in Miami. Kline turned outside leaving a huge hole for the defender to sprint through and sack Brady. Don't know who blew the assignment, but that was as easy a sack that you would ever see.

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Tough assignment for tight end Michael Hoomanawanui to block defensive end Cameron Wake on the play Brady was sacked (5:37 remaining) for the first time. Hard to imagine that was the way the Patriots had their protection drawn up, although part of it is a result of the stress the Dolphins put on the opposition by showing blitz looks pre-snap. Just a hunch, but it seemed as if right tackle Marcus Cannon maybe wasn't seeing the same picture as the others up front, as he initially blocked down on Jared Odrick along with right guard Dan Connolly, leaving Hoomanawanui on the island with Wake.

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juny said:

Already saw some of that in Miami. Kline turned outside leaving a huge hole for the defender to sprint through and sack Brady. Don't know who blew the assignment, but that was as easy a sack that you would ever see.

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JMC00 said:

Why are people assuming that it will be Mankins at LT and Kline at LG? After the Miami game I think it will be Svitek that will be getting the reps at LT with Solder out this week.

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KontradictioN said:

A couple of reasons I assumed that to be the case...

1. Belichick mentioned, I believe yesterday, that the team always thought he was a good and capable LT, but played LG due to Matt Light being there when he was drafted.

2. Mankins looked better at tackle than anybody we've had this year not named Vollmer.

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Observer said:

But can the Wendell, Kline, Connolly trio stop jones and ngata? Not likely to happen.

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TommyBrady12 said:

I'm sad just reading that....

I think the answer will be to just run the ball more -'baltimore did not have a great run defense against the lions last week.

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KontradictioN said:

A couple of reasons I assumed that to be the case...

1. Belichick mentioned, I believe yesterday, that the team always thought he was a good and capable LT, but played LG due to Matt Light being there when he was drafted.

2. Mankins looked better at tackle than anybody we've had this year not named Vollmer.

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olschool said:

If I was Brady , looking at that o-line, and the opposition, I'd hand off on every single play.

We have to be thankful that Brady is still able to play given that he has been hit on just about every pass play this season.

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shalise manza young ✔ @shalisemyoung
Josh Kline ran onto field Sun, yelling to Logan Mankins to slide to LT...that's how quickly Mankins had to make mental/physical switch

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TommyBrady12 said:

I'm sad just reading that....

I think the answer will be to just run the ball more -'baltimore did not have a great run defense against the lions last week.

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