The injury bug hit the New England Patriots hard in the first half of their Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, with a pair of promising rookies sidelined before halftime.
Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, a fourth-round pick making steady progress in his rookie campaign, went down early in the game after a pass play. He stayed on the turf for a moment before heading straight to the blue medical tent.
Though he eventually made his way back to the sideline, the initial optimism didn’t last-Farmer was ruled questionable with a hamstring injury and never returned. By halftime, the team had officially declared him out.
It’s a tough break for a young player who’s been carving out a role in New England’s defensive front. Farmer came into Sunday having appeared in 12 games with two starts, tallying 15 tackles and a fumble recovery.
His motor and physicality have stood out in limited snaps this season, and while he’s still developing, the Patriots have clearly seen enough to keep him in the rotation. Losing him mid-game against a physical Ravens offense only added to the challenge.
Unfortunately for New England, Farmer wasn’t the only rookie to exit early. Second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson also left the game in the first half after sustaining a head injury. Like Farmer, Henderson was later ruled out, leaving the Patriots without two of their top first-year contributors before halftime.
Henderson has shown flashes this season as a change-of-pace back with explosive potential, and his absence was immediately felt against a Baltimore defense that thrives on limiting big plays and forcing teams to grind out yards. With both rookies sidelined, the Patriots were forced to lean even more heavily on their depth in a game where every inch mattered.
Injuries are part of the game, especially this deep into the season, but losing two young pieces with upside-particularly in a developmental year for New England-hits a little harder. The Patriots will be hoping for good news in the coming days, but for now, they’ll have to regroup and adjust without two of their promising rookies.