FOXBORO - The Patriots’ Week 3 preparation already looks like it could get messy.
New England opened the week with a long injury list Wednesday as it gets ready to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the concerns go well beyond the usual midweek soreness. The Patriots are coming off a Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in which five players exited with injuries, and one of them - starting right guard Mike Onwenu - was moved to IR on Tuesday with an ankle injury.
That’s the backdrop for a roster that already feels stretched thin in a few spots. The first practice of the week didn’t exactly calm things down, either.
Several players were not seen, while edge rusher Jose Ramirez was on the field after being signed to the active roster from the practice squad. Mike Vrabel said Ramirez was taking the roster spot of safety Dell Pettus, who was placed on IR with a high-ankle sprain.
“Been a really good practice player for us,” Vrabel said before practice. “I think he's improved since the time he's been here, multiple times being recognized.
He's taken the reps that we talk about being on the show team and using those to his advantage. So, whether they'll be an opportunity, we'll see, for him to be able to help us this week when we get down to the 48-man roster.”
Ramirez’s addition matters because the edge room could be even thinner if Jones and Hutchins remain out. That would leave the Patriots asking more from Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, who both saw heavier snaps after Jones left last week’s game in the second half. New England still managed four sacks against Pittsburgh, but the depth chart on the outside may be tested in a different way against Jacksonville.
There was at least one encouraging sighting on the practice field: safety and special teamer Brenden Schooler was active for the first time since landing on the NFI list over the summer with a back injury. His return to practice starts his three-week window to be activated.
Tight end is another spot worth watching. Rookie Raridon left the Steelers game after 11 snaps and one catch - a 30-yard grab that also drew a defensive pass interference call - because of a thigh injury, and he wasn’t spotted during the portion of practice open to reporters. With Raridon out against Pittsburgh, Cameron Latu handled more of the backup work behind Hunter Henry.
Henry remains the steady piece in that room. The Patriots have leaned on plenty of two-tight-end looks early this season, and Henry’s role as both a receiver and blocker doesn’t appear to be changing.
But if Raridon can’t go, New England may have to shift away from that grouping or lean harder on Latu and rookie Tanner Arkin. Arkin was a healthy scratch last week after appearing in the opener.
The Patriots also added Tanner Conner to the practice squad on Tuesday, another hint that the team wanted more depth at tight end this week.
New England’s second injury report of the week will come out Thursday afternoon after practice.
In Other News...
Jaguars Rookies Already Face A Week 3 Reality Check
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos was a sharp reminder that early-season momentum can disappear fast, especially for a young roster trying to settle in. Jacksonville had led 13-3 before things slipped away, and head coach Liam Coen spent the week stressing the same point to the rookies: keep the focus on the next game, not on the disappointment behind them. For a group still trying to earn trust and find a foothold, every snap and every inactive list decision carries extra weight.
Several newcomers felt that reality in Denver, where Wesley Williams, Tanner Koziol, Jalen Huskey and CJ Williams were healthy scratches, while undrafted rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. got his NFL debut. Others, including Albert Regis, Josh Cameron and Nate Boerkircher, had different levels of involvement as the staff mixed and matched roles on the fly. It is the kind of early-season sorting process that can change quickly, but for these rookies, Week 3 already looks like another test of how much they can handle and how soon they can help. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got A Reality Check Fans Can't Ignore
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos was more than a bad finish, it was the kind of setback that forces a quick reality check. Jacksonville had a 10-point second-half lead and still walked away empty-handed, a result that stings even more in September when early momentum can shape the rest of the season.
Liam Coen has already stressed accountability and a strong response moving forward, and now the question is how this team handles the fallout. National power rankings have taken notice, too, nudging Jacksonville just outside the top 10 and reflecting how fragile the margin can be when a promising start slips away. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Already Look Like Contenders But One Doubt Still Lingers
The Jaguars still have the look of a team built to stay in the AFC race, even after a Week 2 loss did little to shake their place in the broader contender conversation. They remain ranked No. 10 in a Super Bowl contender power ranking, with the praise centered on strong coaching and steady quarterback play, two pillars that usually keep a team relevant deep into the season.
Still, the placement also serves as a reminder that Jacksonville has not fully erased every question around its ceiling. A loss this early does not change the bigger picture, but it does keep the pressure on a roster that has to prove it can stack wins the way the leagues more established contenders do. [Read more 🡒]