The Patriots had a flurry of roster moves in the past few days, defensive lineman Mike Pennel was released, Maurice Harris and Keionta Davis were released with injury designations [reverted to IR], ST/LB Brandon King was also placed on IR and the team signed RB Robert Martin and LB/ST Scooby Wright. But the biggest news was that center David Andrews was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot to his lung.
The blood clot is a potentially life-threatening situation. Andrews was reportedly released from the hospital according to the Globe’s Jim McBride but he still may miss significant time. The medication to treat clots are blood-thinners which may take upward of three months to take effect.
The anti-coagulant blood thinners [heparin, warfarin] are given by injection typically for the first five days and then the patient will take pills for the next three months. During this time, the risk for bleeding is increased and may preclude Andrews from playing football.
Andrews was an undrafted free agent out of Georgia but has been the Patriots starting center for the past three years. He signed a contract extension that carries him through the 2020 season. He was present for the preseason game against Carolina but hasn’t been seen at practice since. He’ll be replaced in the interim by veteran Ted Karras.
Pennel was thought to be an under-the-radar key signing at the time, as he’s known as a big, two-gapping run stuffer. But he was passed by Danny Shelton on the depth chart and as rookie Byron Cowart has progressed, Pennel was deemed replaceable and cut loose ahead of the deadline.
Harris was another Patriot signing this spring. He had a very solid spring and picked up with a very good start to training camp. But an injury during the joint practices with the Tennessee Titans put him firmly on the roster bubble with the return of Josh Gordon and Demaryius Thomas. Davis was considered a longshot to make the 53-man roster on the edge due to the depth the team has this year. He was injured in the game against the Panthers last week. Both players cleared waivers and therefore have reverted to IR.
Martin played for the Giants in the preseason last year and was with the Patriots for all of one day and now he too was released. Wright spent 2016-17 with the Arizona Cardinals before getting released in their final cutdown of 2018. He played with the Arizona Hotshots of the very short-lived AAF this spring. He was recently engaged this past weekend. He should see some significant snaps against the Giants on Thursday.
While a real longshot to make the roster, Wright was one of the highest-rated linebackers in the AAF.
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
