FOXBORO — If the Patriots’ offensive conservatism at the end of last week’s loss to the Chiefs left you feeling irritable, then it be best to skip this week’s game against the Broncos lest it ruin your holiday.
Head coach Bill Belichick said Sunday that injuries were partially to blame for the Patriots’ lack of tempo late in the game when they trailed by 10 points with four minutes left in the game and backed up to their own 1-yard line.
By that time, left guard Cole Strange and tight end Hunter Henry had left with injuries, and left tackle Conor McDermott – filling in for Trent Brown – was out with a concussion.
Based on early returns in practice, it seems likely the Patriots will be going into Denver without those three players.
Strange has already been placed on injured reserve. McDermott has yet to practice while in concussion protocol. Henry was merely a bystander during Thursday’s practice after missing Wednesday’s session. And safety Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) have missed the first two days of practice.
To add insult to injury, linebacker Anfernee Jennings and safety/special teamer Cody Davis also didn’t practice Thursday due to illnesses.
The Patriots have already had to find fill-ins for outside linebacker Matthew Judon, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale, and cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, J.C. Jackson and Marcus Jones this season.
But now who are the latest Patriots who will have to step up this week against the Broncos?
At left guard, expect to see rookie Atonio Mafi, who began the season starting in place of Strange but was eventually passed on the depth chart by fellow rookie Sidy Sow, who has been at right guard since Mike Onwenu moved over to right tackle.
Mafi has played 356 offensive snaps this season and ranks 77th out of 85 qualified guards in overall PFF grade. He’s let up four sacks and 22 total pressures this season.
Brown has been in and out of the lineup this season and would be first in line to replace McDermott if he’s healthy enough to go. He has been practicing. If Brown can’t play, then left tackle duties would likely be passed down to Vederian Lowe unless the Patriots activate Tyrone Wheatley Jr. off of injured reserve to start.
Lowe has played 336 snaps and started this season at left tackle and right tackle after being acquired via trade from the Vikings this offseason. He ranks last among 90 qualified tackles in PFF grade and has let up four sacks and 28 total pressures.
Wheatley has yet to play on offense for the Patriots since being acquired at the end of the summer in a trade with the Browns for running back Pierre Strong. Given Lowe’s struggles, it might be worth seeing what Wheatley could do to help protect starting quarterback Bailey Zappe.
The Patriots have liked to dress Henry, Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki at tight end this season. So, if Henry can’t play, not only would Pharaoh Brown and Gesicki take on bigger roles, Matt Sokol could be elevated from the practice squad, as well.
Sokol, 28, went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2019. He’s spent time with the Chargers, Jaguars and Lions and played three games with the Patriots in 2022. He also played two games with the Chargers in 2020 but has yet to catch and NFL pass in a regular season game.
We know Ezekiel Elliott, Kevin Harris and JaMycal Hasty will fill in for Stevenson at running back and that Shaun Wade and Alex Austin will be available at cornerback with J.C. Jackson on the non-football illness list, but the Patriots have a few options to fill in if Peppers can’t play.
Peppers and Kyle Dugger have been nearly every-down starters in the Patriots’ defense with Jalen Mills (314 snap), rookie Marte Mapu (171 snaps) and Adrian Phillips (137 snaps) all taking on more limited roles this season.
Mapu registered his first career interception in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and is an intriguing option for some of Peppers’ box snaps. The rookie has looked more comfortable closer to the line of scrimmage than at free safety this season.
Mills and Phillips have been underutilized but have more experience back deep at free safety.
The Patriots went into the 2023 season with impressive depth at safety, and it hasn’t been tested yet. If Peppers misses Sunday’s contest, it seems most valuable for the future to give Mapu extended time.