The New England Patriots have been moving in the right direction, but the injury situation around them keeps getting uglier. They were already light on bodies before the season began, and eight weeks in, that hasn’t really changed.
Nowhere is that more obvious than at wide receiver. A.J.
Brown has missed most of the season, Romeo Doubs is on Injured Reserve, and Mack Hollins is expected back soon after his own IR stint. Hunter Henry is hurt as well, which could leave the Patriots even thinner as a pass-catching group.
That’s why Calvin Ridley deserves a look, even if the fit comes with real complications. The Tennessee Titans are only asking for a Day 3 pick, which makes him one of the more attainable names on the market.
There are obvious reasons to hesitate. Ridley is under contract through 2027, and his cap hit for next season sits at $29.75 million.
He’s 32, and his most recent season was marred by injuries. Those are not small concerns.
Still, the Patriots may not have the luxury of being picky. When the group is healthy, the receiver room looks strong enough.
But midway through the year, that healthy version hasn’t been available often enough. Efton Chism III, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams have given them depth, but the team doesn’t seem fully convinced by that trio.
Ridley offers something different: a physical receiver who has built his game around separation and explosive plays. He may also be the most realistic trade option for New England while other teams chase Josh Downs, Jerry Jeudy, or Brian Thomas Jr.
His deal could be adjusted if the Patriots wanted to make it work. And Ridley would likely welcome the chance to get some money up front if it means escaping Tennessee and landing with a contender. Through seven games, he has only six catches for 91 yards, so the motivation to prove himself again should be there.
It’s not the ideal move, but the Patriots may be past the point of waiting for perfect. Even if Ridley isn’t the same player he once was, he would still give them another big-play option, especially with Kyle Williams not being given a long leash. For a late-Day 3 pick, that’s about as good a swing as they’re likely to find.
In Other News...
Patriots Offense Faces One Huge Test Against Green Bay
The Patriots are heading into a tricky midseason measuring stick against Green Bay, with both teams sitting at 5-3 and both defenses built to make life difficult on offense. New England is trying to sort through its own injury issues while preparing for a game that figures to be tight, physical and short on easy yards, especially with the Packers also missing several notable pieces on their side.
One of the biggest questions for New England is the status of Hunter Henry, who did not practice recently as the Patriots continue to manage a growing list of health concerns. With Green Bay also expected to be shorthanded, this matchup may come down to which offense can piece together enough clean drives against a defense that is likely to win its share of snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Trade Deadline Mistake They Really Can't Afford
The Patriots are heading toward the trade deadline with the same familiar problem that has followed them all season: too many places where the roster has not held up the way it needed to. Injuries and underperformance have thinned the wide receiver room, and the front office is still weighing whether the answer is to stand pat or make a move that can stabilize the offense and the line of scrimmage.
There is also some internal tension around how aggressive New England should be. Talks involving vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf are ongoing, and the team has looked at help at offensive guard and edge rusher, but the broader question is whether the Patriots should be adding or subtracting from a defense that still has pieces worth keeping intact. For a team trying to avoid a deadline misstep, the next few days could say a lot about how it views its own timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Hurt A Playoff Push
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Patriots are being forced to weigh short-term help against the longer view of their roster. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer pointed to Christian Barmore and Carlton Davis as possible trade candidates, a reminder that even a team trying to build momentum can find itself pulled into deadline conversations when the market starts moving.
Mike Vrabel has tried to keep the focus elsewhere, saying he has not shared any trade plans and stressing the team is locked in on the Packers and the usual week-to-week business. Still, the possibility of moving either player would come with real consequences for a Patriots group trying to stay competitive, which is why this deadline feels less like a formality and more like a decision that could shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]