Spikes placed on IR with ligament tear in knee

I know it's his contract year, but I give Spikes credit for toughing it out the past few months. He's been limping around for a while. He had a knee issue last year as well, IIRC. I see him signing a one-year, prove-it kind of deal in the off-season. Good luck on your rehab, Brandon.

I'm glad they IR'd him.

He couldn't change direction, and was getting by on guts. I hope he comes back next year, but he would have been abused by Luck in this game, so good decision.

Time for another Rutger's success story.

Not surprised based off reports from last game. Still one tough son of a gun for playing as hurt as he was.

I saw this on on necn, i turned of the tv and sat in a darkened room for quit a while, depression is starting to set in. The amount of injuries this year is beyond absurd. While i can see beating indy beyond that its hard to believe this team, or whats left of it can go much farther. Thats more than half of the starting front seven gone for the season.

reflexblue said:

I saw this on on necn, i turned of the tv and sat in a darkened room for quit a while, depression is starting to set in. The amount of injuries this year is beyond absurd. While i can see beating indy beyond that its hard to believe this team, or whats left of it can go much farther. Thats more than half of the starting front seven gone for the season.

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Brutal, but the most important thing against the remaining AFC teams is healthy C. Jones, NInk and secondary. We'll be competitive on D if those guys are healthy.

patchick said:

The good news is that the Pats are shoo-ins for the IR bowl trophy! Who can possibly compete against a lineup like Gronkowski, Wilfork, Mayo, Vollmer, Kelly and Spikes, with Boyce, Armstead, Wilson & co. coming off the bench? Quality AND quantity!

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Where does Vareen fit in or does IR designated for return not qualify?

This run of injuries is absolutely ridiculous. Think about everyone else that has missed time too and/or played through significant injuries.

on a different note I think Spikes deserves some major props for what he played through this year and was able to contribute despite. I cant remember the exact game but it was either the first or second game after he originally injured it and I thought he looked like an absolute liability in the 1st quarter and he ended with like 7 tackles and fumble recovery. And he contributed a lot the whole rest of the season and this should not be ignored as a significant injury and puts that much more pressure on Siliga to hold up in the middle.

signbabybrady said:

This run of injuries is absolutely ridiculous. Think about everyone else that has missed time too and/or played through significant injuries.

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It's a testament to the coaching staff and the resilience of the players.

Many teams would have given up weeks ago.

reflexblue said:

I saw this on on necn, i turned of the tv and sat in a darkened room for quit a while, depression is starting to set in. The amount of injuries this year is beyond absurd. While i can see beating indy beyond that its hard to believe this team, or whats left of it can go much farther. Thats more than half of the starting front seven gone for the season.

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After this game, we are on house money as far as I am concerned. Damn, they are playing with house money this week. To be the #2 seed with the DEVASTATING injuries is incredible. They have exceeded MOST peoples' expectations (ALL - if you do not count the fans). Chances are so slim to win it all, but as far as I am concerned this season was one of my favorites no matter how it ends from here. Everything from here on out is Bonus Baby! I will be jacked for next season - hopefully, we will experience the other side of the injury extreme. There will always be the what could have been if they fall short, but there is something strangely satisfying in how this season played out. I don't want it to end, but when it does the disappointment will be greatly lessened.

Where's Bruschi ...............

One positive from this could be the furtherance of Spikes' run thumper role being given to Hightower. His skillset should in theory be better at that than playing the role of Mayo like he was before. Moreover, if that does happen we could get a long look at him in that role and how he acclimates himself going forward for the future, if the team does indeed move on from Spikes.

The key things that will be difficult to replace are Brandon's tenacity and ability to make game-changing tackles/play. Say what you will about Spikes' horrendous coverage abilities, but he was the enforcer and tone-setter of the defense and someone the team will definitely miss in the playoffs when the games themselves take on more of a physical element.

I think the Patriots can definitely adapt, but it won't be as easy plugging in a guy as some are making it out to be.

My first happy thought was like many of you - the long-awaited arrival of Adam Seward! I knew he was retired, but was surprised to see he has carved an interesting broadcasting career with the NFL in foreign markets.

Adam Seward - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mack Herron said:

Front 7 looking a bit different than it did in Sept.

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Yup.

We now have 3/7's of our front 7.

Bhelmet said:

After this game, we are on house money as far as I am concerned. Damn, they are playing with house money this week. To be the #2 seed with the DEVASTATING injuries is incredible. They have exceeded MOST peoples' expectations (ALL - if you do not count the fans). Chances are so slim to win it all, but as far as I am concerned this season was one of my favorites no matter how it ends from here. Everything from here on out is Bonus Baby! I will be jacked for next season - hopefully, we will experience the other side of the injury extreme. There will always be the what could have been if they fall short, but there is something strangely satisfying in how this season played out. I don't want it to end, but when it does the disappointment will be greatly lessened.

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So if the Pats lose, they will receive bonus points for being so banged up?

Sorry, if they don't win it all, I can't see the positive of another year of sand through the Brady hourglass. Injuries don't make it any happier.

Its time for the Taylor Reed era to begin! If nothing else he can play special teams. How scary is the thought of Beauharnais as the principle backup at ILB!

shmessy said:

So if the Pats lose, they will receive bonus points for being so banged up?

Sorry, at this moment, I can't see the positive of another year of sand through the Brady hourglass.

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The past is a sunk cost. All that matters is that you make the most of what you've got moving forward.

This won't hurt that badly against the Colts. In the AFC, if they play the Chargers in the AFCCG, it could get problematic. Best of luck to him in his recovery and hopefully the injury bug is done raping the team this season (though I highly doubt it).

KontradictioN said:

This won't hurt that badly against the Colts. In the AFC, if they play the Chargers in the AFCCG, it could get problematic. Best of luck to him in his recovery and hopefully the injury bug is done raping the team this season (though I highly doubt it).

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Meh, Danny Woodhead and Ronnie Brown don't scare me and they aren't physical backs either. If Mathews gets healthy could be a different story but still not a huge loss for that matchup IMO

Patjew said:

I assume he's being IR'd due to embarrassment, right?

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His leg finally fell off in the Buffalo gsme. He was embarrassed, but he still wielded it like a club one time before hobbling off.

Bhelmet said:

That's harsh

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I know. It's what the idiot commentator said during the Buffalo game when spikes had to hobble off the field after falling down a play. It's one of the dumber things I've ever heard during a game.

With Spikes going on the IR, in all likelihood, Ja'Gared Davis is the next man up from the practice squad. He's been there all year since the Pats grabbed him off waivers from Houston.