Mark Daniels

Sunday

Nov 4, 2018 at 7:53 PM


FOXBORO — The Patriots went into Sunday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers without two of their key offensive weapons.


Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel were both inactive after being limited in three practice last week.


Gronk suffered a back injury in Week 7 and missed the team’s win in Chicago. He returned to the field last week and played in Buffalo, but looked limited while catching just three passes for 43 yards. The tight end practiced on [...]

FOXBORO — The Patriots went into Sunday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers without two of their key offensive weapons.

Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel were both inactive after being limited in three practice last week.

Gronk suffered a back injury in Week 7 and missed the team’s win in Chicago. He returned to the field last week and played in Buffalo, but looked limited while catching just three passes for 43 yards. The tight end practiced on Wednesday, but was absent on Thursday. He returned to practice on Friday, but again was limited. Gronkowski has also been dealing with an ankle injury.

It’s been a tough week for Gronk. On Wednesday, he ended his weekly press conference after only about three minutes. While walking through the locker room, reporters heard the tight end complaining to the team's media relations staff after being questioned about his lack of red zone production and his confidence.

With Gronkowski out, the Patriots were down to just one tight end — Dwayne Allen. Backup Jacob Hollister was also out due to a hamstring injury.

Michel’s absence on Sunday wasn't a big surprise. The rookie running back was carted off the field in Chicago after suffering a knee injury. He sat out last week’s contest in Buffalo and was limited in practice all week.

Without Michel, the Pats went with just two running backs — James White and Kenjon Barner. They played last week’s game with the same depth chart and that caused them to start the game with Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield.

Also inactive for the Patriots were offensive linemen Cole Croston, Brian Schwenke and Shaq Mason and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby. Right tackle Marcus Cannon returned after missing the last two games with a concussion.

Turning to Karras

The Patriots ruled out Mason on Friday after the starting right guard suffered a calf injury in Buffalo. Mason didn’t practice at all last week. This game was the first he has missed in the three years.

The last time Mason didn't play was on Oct. 29, 2015. Mason has become a key part of the offensive line. He was alsway an elite run blocker but has developed into a well-rounded guard. The Patriots signed him to a four-year, $45-million contract extension earlier this year.

With Mason out, the Patriots turned to Ted Karras to fill the void. Karras stepped in last week when Mason went down and performed well.

The Patriots drafted Karras in the sixth round in 2016. Karras made one start in 2016. He started two in place of David Andrews at center in 2017. This year, he's appeared in five games. Karras played well during the preseason, beating out multiple of veterans for a spot on the 53-man roster.

The Patriots, however, were still in need of some depth on the offensive line. With both Mason backup guard Schwenke (foot injury) both out, the Patriots promoted James Ferentz from the practice squad.

Ferentz, 29, spent all of last season on the Patriots practice squad. He played two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos, from 2015-2016. During the 2015 season, he played in 14 games on offense and special teams. In 2016, he played in seven games for the Broncos. Ferentz is the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, a Bill Belichick coaching disciple.

Help is available

The Patriots didn’t make a move at the NFL’s trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they won’t add a veteran before the end of the regular season.

Last year, the Patriots added two veterans when they signed defensive end James Harrison after he was released from Pittsburgh and claimed tight end Martellus Bennett following his release from Green Bay.

This year, another option has emerged — Bruce Irvin.

The Oakland Raiders waived the veteran edge rusher on Saturday. If Irvin passes through waivers on Monday, he’ll become a free agent. Irvin was named a captain this year, but the purge in Oakland continues under new coach John Gruden.

Irvin has three sacks and one forced fumble in eight games this season. Irvin tied a career-high last season with eight sacks. He spent the first four years of his career with the Seahawks.

The Patriots entered this week was just 12 sacks, which was the fourth worst mark in the NFL. Irvin's three sacks would be second on the Patriots. Deatrich Wise leads the defense with 3.5 sacks while Trey Flowers, Kyle Van Noy and Adrian Clayborn have two apiece.

Keeping his options open

According to the NFL Network, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is still interested in head coaching jobs.

While discussing potential head coaches for the Cleveland Browns, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said he expected McDaniels to be a candidate. Rapoport added: “I know that sounds crazy, considering he pulled out of the Colts job last year, but I’m told he is open to potential head coaching opportunities.”

The Browns job, which McDaniels once turned down, doesn’t look as bad as it used to as first overall pick Baker Mayfield gives the next head coach a young quarterback to work with. McDaniels reportedly worked Mayfield out last offseason when the Patriots were debating about trading up for a quarterback.

McDaniels nearly left the Patriots last season after verbally accepting the Indianapolis head-coaching job. Despite the team announcing the press conference on Twitter, McDaniels backed out at the last second. The news made it seem like McDaniels would be the heir apparent to Belichick.

Maybe he still is, but it looks like McDaniels’ name will still be out there for vacant coaching positions this offseason.