Hightower out for the year with a torn pec

[patsinthesnow]

At this point we may want to borrow from the Rams & Cardinals defensive philosophy with Chung at LB (Barron & Buccanon).

The problem is you need Calais Campbell in the interior to stop the run. Brown & Branch would really need to step up.

We can’t afford to have two unathletic LBs on the field at all times IMO.

 

[Sicilian]

Damn, tough loss. Not just for his day to day but for his clutch play in the postseason. Strong and speedy recovery Donta!

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

 

[long distance]

1st down:

Flowers - Guy/Brown - Branch/Brown - Wise - KVN
McClellin - Harris/Roberts - Chung (Richards)​

 

[varjao]

oooohhh ****

 

[long distance]

 

[TinhWoodhead]

My pec is always torn

anyways that sux..

 

[TBR]

Another big character guy for the locker room & sideline is unfortunately gone. Giardi and some other Pats pundits have been highlighting this recently in regards to the 2017 squad. No Edelman, Blount, Bennett, Ninkovich and now Hightower.

 

[Ross12]

Wow. Fantastic. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, other teams were wary of him medically and he has been getting injured a lot. I guess the only "positive" (if you can call it that?) is that he hasn't really played a ton this year so they should already be used to being without him, and although they're both downgrades talent-wise, both Harris and Van Noy should be able to handle the communication that he typically handles well. "Next man up" I suppose.

 

[luuked]

 

[RobertWeathers]

This blows.

Well, the good news is it was determined before the trade deadline and not in late December during a playoff push.

They really need an OLB now......sign Akeem Ayers for cripes sake

While Shea isn't 1/2 the player high is, he'll help.

KVN is playing very well.

Harris and Roberts are average but passable.

 

[luuked]

Wasn't saying it wasn't injured. I just said if it was a complete tear like the twitter doctor was saying that they likely would have known that it was by now. My point was how does she know it isn't the grade 2 strain variety of pec injury.

Was just trying to add context to it not trying to imply that you downplayed anything. Maybe shouldnt have quoted you. Sorry.

 

[luuked]

I just heard on the radio that Hightower is indeed out for the year.

From the land of silver linings it at least happened a week before the trade deadline. Not sure it will make any difference but whatever..

 

[Tony2046]

They're huge losses. No doubt. Although other contenders have had some major ones as well. Green Bay (Rodgers), Philadelphia (Peters, Hicks - 2 of their top 5 best players), Houston (Watt, Mercilus - 2 of their top 5).

Think you left off some critical names from your list.

Miami (Cutler), Cardinals (Palmer)...

 

[scott99]

Really is a shame, just when this defense was coming around. Hightower is truly the best defensive player on the team. Nobody can replace him. I’ll never forget that strip sack in SB 51, that play was huge. We don’t have that kind of difference maker. Plus he calls the defense. Maybe he can get some of that deer antler stuff from Ray Lewis.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

If they don't trade for a linebacker i'm not sure this group can get it done in January minus Hightower, it was already a major weakness.

You're also assuming the others will stay healthy, it's likely someone else will also get dinged up.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

**** ODD-NUMBERED YEARS MAN GOD DAMN IT

 

[A Defiant Goose]

And **** south park for putting a hex on the Patriots

 

[chasa]

I love Hightower, but the man is injury prone. and its not like one recurring injury, his whole body is fragile.

 

[scott99]

Ya know what, **** Ninkovich, he can stay retired. Especially If money is his only reason to come back.