Now that Develin is done for the season, who will be the team's fullback?

The Hooman? Bolden? Thoughts?

Who said he's done for the season?

Does the team need a fullback?

VectorPrime said:

Does the team need a fullback?

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Helps in December/January.

I see IR-DTR for him if it is a broken leg.

shmessy said:

Who said he's done for the season?

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A broke leg typically takes 4-6 month to heal

But then again, I'm no doctor

This is not an small injury. Devlin was also a very versatile ST's player as well as a better than average blocker and receiver. He's been a key part of the running game for the last couple of years, including (IIRC) never being stoppe don a short yardage run. Devlin is on of the unnoticed players who you are only aware of when he's not there. He will be missed.

I thought it was the ankle not the leg?

If he is out all year, I say try to replace his spot in house, make it more of an H-back role.

Do we know if it was a break? It looked to me like it was that his cleat got stuck in the turf and his lower leg twisted which usually means knee. I'd be surprised if that shin on shin caused a break. Shin bones are weapons and unless its a lower shin to checked high shin type contact there shouldn't be a break.

jays52 said:

Do we know if it was a break? It looked to me like it was that his cleat got stuck in the turf and his lower leg twisted which usually means knee. I'd be surprised if that shin on shin caused a break. Shin bones are weapons and unless its a lower shin to checked high shin type contact there shouldn't be a break.

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After his legs came free from the ground, he was spun in the air. A second Panthers player ran into the area, and Develin's leg hit him during his whiparound.

jays52 said:

Do we know if it was a break?

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It was a broken bone

Jim McBride ‏@globejimmcbride 1h1 hour ago
Tough news out of Carolina as Patriots fullback James Develin suffers broken right leg in fourth quarter according to team source. #Patriots

"Patriots sources" confirming it's broken. That's a big-ish hit. We're not a FB reliant offense but we rely on the FB for certain things, and Develin is a damn good FB.

I was personally hoping he'd be the Fb and TE3 role. Guess that dream is gone. This makes it easier to keep both White and Lewis now, with Lewis having certainly become a roster lock after the last 2 games.

Good chance we spread things out more (in short yardage) with the loss of the FB, Kettani is not an NFL FB.

Deus Irae said:

After his legs came free from the ground, he was spun in the air. A second Panthers player ran into the area, and Develin's leg hit him during his whiparound.

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Yeah I saw that part. Looked like a shin to shin contact with the Panthers guy. I saw a reply after the game in slow motion where Devlin went to spin and his cleat dug in while the rest of his body rotated. It looked really, really bad. When they brought up the shin collision on the broadcast it surprised me because normally that wouldn't have sufficient force behind it to cause a break.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

It was a broken bone

Jim McBride ‏@globejimmcbride 1h1 hour ago
Tough news out of Carolina as Patriots fullback James Develin suffers broken right leg in fourth quarter according to team source. #Patriots

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Cool, thanks. Dang that's freaky though.

They may go without. I think the only reason Develin was used is because he did such a great job he carved a role for himself.

FB seems to be a role that the Patriots will use if the talent's there, but don't particularly find it indispensible (they largely went without between Heath Evans and Develin).

Former NFL head team physician with 17 yrs of sideline experience. Orthopedic Surgeon. Real time inside look at injuries/medical issues.

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc 18m18 minutes ago
@BenVolin @globejimmcbride By video, tibia/fibula fracture that will require surgery (rod). IR, full recovery in 6 months.

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc 3h3 hours ago
Fractured tibia is season ending. 6 months recovery. Too bad #JamesDevelin @Patriots

49ers drafted an injured fullback last year, but they already have Bruce Miller maybe they could pick him up. I believe Manx was pretty high on the guy.

Hooman?

Trade for Trey Millard?

Colt Lyerla?