Sony Michel Injury (update: Expected to Play Week 10 vs Titans)

[Mike the Brit]

It may depend a little on how Barner looks against the Bills. If he looks solid, the Pats might wait an extra week with Michel.

The Patriots need a goal line back and I don't think that either White or Barner can be that, even without the risk of only dressing two running backs.

 

[Mack Herron]

The Patriots need a goal line back and I don't think that either White or Barner can be that, even without the risk of only dressing two running backs.

They might just want to wait a bit on Michel. If he's out 1-2 games, might not want to risk exposing a player like Davis.

 

[Mike the Brit]

They might just want to wait a bit on Michel. If he's out 1-2 games, might not want to risk exposing a player like Davis.

Well, yes. But, if I had to bet, I'd say that 1-2 games is very optimistic.

 

[Mack Herron]

Well, yes. But, if I had to bet, I'd say that 1-2 games is very optimistic.

Another possibility is that they sign Farrow off the PS. No hurry there.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Don’t forget top notch scientist/physicist. Those such as @Palm Beach Pats Fan helped us all get through deflategate.

Forgot about Palm Beach. My only Science knowledge was when Timothy Leary was making acid in the MIT labs. I don’t like to mix my Science knowledges

 

[zipster9]

I'd sit him until after bye. That gives him well enough rest and avoid a setback if back too early...

 

[MainePatsFan26]

1. Each game in the NFL means a whole lot more than in MLB.
2. It's game plan specific.
3. Players have roster bonuses.
4. It's 16 games and no player wants to be left out.

There is no way you could rest players in the NFL.

I agree there is no way currently to do this. Strategically, if you could rework the contracts there would be some benefit to keeping fresh guys out there rather than the hobbled. The same issue is occurring in general labor practice. Lots of employers are asking their workers to give 60-70 hours per week despite studies showing 30-40 hour weeks are more productive. Just hire two people who can both remain fresh. My point is that injuries will go down (and with them potential long-term lawsuits) and effectiveness will go up. And more individuals will get to join the NFL as rosters expand. It is a win, win, win except for a few players who lose a slight percentage of their contract but also don't risk greater injuries.

 

[supafly]

I'd sit him until after bye. That gives him well enough rest and avoid a setback if back too early...

I know that people will bring up the point about him playing as soon as he can play, but due to his injury history with that knee, I would be inclined to take a cautious approach. Bringing him back after the bye seems like a decent ballpark estimate to me. Let’s hope that we lucked out with this one.

 

[maineman209]

The Patriots need a goal line back and I don't think that either White or Barner can be that, even without the risk of only dressing two running backs.

IDK. Actual short-yardage, goal-line running situations don't occur all that often.

Barner seems like pretty tough runner. The Pats OL has been run-blocking well, and Develin and Allen have helped out a lot, not to mention Gronk. The Pats also scheme pretty well to get guys across the line.

I agree, though, that going with just two RBs feels very risky. OTOH, I'm not particularly eager to see a player like Davis waived.

 

[maineman209]

Well, yes. But, if I had to bet, I'd say that 1-2 games is very optimistic.

We don't know (and never will) the true extent of Sony's injury from a medical perspective. Prudence would recommend that, even with a relatively minor MCL sprain, two weeks of rest would be the minimum, especially since this new injury involves the same knee that's been a problem for Sony. OTOH, Prudence has always been a wuss, especially wrt spiders, so ...

Regardless ...

Whether or not the Pats bring in a new RB or promote Farrow, it seems very likely that Barner will step into Sony's role (or some modified version thereof) for this next game against the Bills. The Bills run-D has been slightly above average, excluding the outlier game against Indy. If Barner performs adequately against the Bills, it seems likely that the Pats would stick with him for the GBY game, since the Packers' run-D has been significantly weaker.

So, that would get Sony at least two weeks of rest. If they can get through the game against the Titans without him (the Titans run-D has been slightly below average), the BYE is the following week, which would give Sony basically a month off.

In any case, it seems to me that this will be a week-to-week situation, with the Pats' moves dictated by Sony's recovery progress and by how they perform without him.

 

[DarrylS]

Always thought the 53 man roster may be helpful, why dress only 47 when a team pays for 53 players?? Consider the roles all these guys could play and reduce the wear and tear on our regulars... A guy like Cordarelle Patterson could just be used on KO returns, a 3rd mobile QB could be used situationally etc. I do not have the imagination to figure out all the possibilities, but BB and his crew might find this intriguing.

 

[maineman209]

Always thought the 53 man roster may be helpful, why dress only 47 when a team pays for 53 players?? Consider the roles all these guys could play and reduce the wear and tear on our regulars... A guy like Cordarelle Patterson could just be used on KO returns, a 3rd mobile QB could be used situationally etc. I do not have the imagination to figure out all the possibilities, but BB and his crew might find this intriguing.

A "15-Day Disabled List" would be nice, too.

 

[Yehoodi]

Glad that is was just a sprain. I would sit him till after the bye, thereby giving him 4 weeks of rest.

 

[Oswlek]

Always thought the 53 man roster may be helpful, why dress only 47 when a team pays for 53 players?? Consider the roles all these guys could play and reduce the wear and tear on our regulars... A guy like Cordarelle Patterson could just be used on KO returns, a 3rd mobile QB could be used situationally etc. I do not have the imagination to figure out all the possibilities, but BB and his crew might find this intriguing.

It used to be a 45 man roster. The expansion to 53 was intended to be the short-term IR that can also be used as a developmental parking ground.

 

[PatsFan2]

They might just want to wait a bit on Michel. If he's out 1-2 games, might not want to risk exposing a player like Davis.

Are we talking about the same Keionta Davis?? Cause he's not very good if he's waived we would probably hear crickets.

 

[sturmrider]

I am beginning to think the RB position is dying. We will never see another great like JIm Brown, or Jim Taylor. I think this is because of the size of the front defensive line today.

They used to have smaller front lines, but now with the way they are bulked up a running back has a hard time running through the line like they did in the past and when hit now it is a huge hit that may put him out of the game, possibly for the year.

Receivers on the other hand have had a lot of protection put in and cornerbacks are much smaller and lighter. They still can be hurt, but I just don't feel they have the same possibility of serious injury. In fact I think it is more the turf that is a danger to them in some cases.

I don't know, but would like to hear other opinions on the demise of the old style bruising running back and whether you think they can still have a similar impact on a season, or if the position may have changed for good.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

It just so happens that the best unemployed RB out there just happened to play for the Patriots last season and was with us through TC this year.

Mike Gillislee is home collecting $70,833 a week from the Saints for not playing. But, he probably would come back to work for say $1oo,000 a week from the Pats. That would take approximately $900,000 of cap for the rest of the season. But, I think it’s worth it at this point.

Why would you pay him that kind of money? He’s unemployed and would play for the league minimum

 

[Deus Irae]

I am beginning to think the RB position is dying. We will never see another great like JIm Brown, or Jim Taylor. I think this is because of the size of the front defensive line today.

They used to have smaller front lines, but now with the way they are bulked up a running back has a hard time running through the line like they did in the past and when hit now it is a huge hit that may put him out of the game, possibly for the year.

Receivers on the other hand have had a lot of protection put in and cornerbacks are much smaller and lighter. They still can be hurt, but I just don't feel they have the same possibility of serious injury. In fact I think it is more the turf that is a danger to them in some cases.

I don't know, but would like to hear other opinions on the demise of the old style bruising running back and whether you think they can still have a similar impact on a season, or if the position may have changed for good.

Gurley
Elliott
Barkley
Bell
etc...

The RB position is actually experiencing a bit of a renaissance. What's been lessened is the RB1 who absolutely can't catch the ball, and the FB.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Gurley
Elliott
Barkley
Bell
etc...

The RB position is actually experiencing a bit of a renaissance. What's been lessened is the RB1 who absolutely can't catch the ball, and the FB.

Yup, Gurley and Barkley in particular have about as much talent as any RB I've seen, and are a great representation of what the modern do-everything, 3 down RB1 should ideally be. They obviously have a lot of productive years to accumulate before we can start talking about them alongside the Tomlinsons and Marshall Faulks and Barry Sanders of the world but the talent is there if they can keep their production up into their 30s.

 

[Angelpats]

IDK. Actual short-yardage, goal-line running situations don't occur all that often.

Barner seems like pretty tough runner. The Pats OL has been run-blocking well, and Develin and Allen have helped out a lot, not to mention Gronk.

Goal line situations occur at least once a game but short yardage for 1st downs occur quite often. If we really need a yard, I don’t know why they don’t use Develin as a short yardage back and have Allen block for him.