Mike Vrabel’s line this week said plenty about where the New England Patriots are right now: they’ve been “wearing out the MRIs” all season. The injuries have piled up fast enough that the team has already put 13 players on injured reserve, and with only five of its eight return designations used, the Patriots may have to get selective in the second half.
Vrabel made it clear Wednesday that the immediate focus is elsewhere. “Let’s get past the injuries here.
Let’s try to focus on the Lions and what we need to do to try to find a way to win the game,” he said. “But the injuries and the injured reserve, I mean, if you pay attention, we don’t have too many spots left here to bring guys back on injured reserve.”
The Patriots have already brought wide receivers A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins, along with offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, back onto the 53-man roster after their IR stays. But with eight games left and depth becoming a real issue, the team’s remaining return slots matter.
That makes the order of operations pretty clear, starting with the players who can wait.
Hutchins, the Patriots’ final draft pick of the year, earned a roster spot after a strong summer. The Boston College rookie played in the first two games, logged three tackles and handled 12 special teams snaps before a knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers sent him to IR.
He later posted a photo on social media showing a boot, suggesting surgery may have been involved. Even with some edge depth concerns, New England has gotten strong production from Dre’Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, so Hutchins is not the most pressing return candidate right now.
Jacobs is in a similar bucket. One of three undrafted rookies to make the initial roster, the Missouri linebacker was placed on IR immediately with an undisclosed injury and still has not made his practice debut this season.
He has remained a steady presence in the locker room, but this looks more like a redshirt year than a late-season rescue mission. His physical style would fit alongside Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, yet the Patriots may be better off letting him develop from the sideline.
Pettus has been a useful piece for New England since signing in 2024 out of Troy, carving out a role on special teams and even contributing on defense. In 36 career games with the Patriots, he has 56 tackles, two sacks and four pass breakups.
An ankle injury in Week 2 against the Steelers landed him on IR on Sept. 23.
Since then, the Patriots have leaned on Kindle Vildor, Mike Brown and Elliott Davison to cover the back end. Pettus could return later if the team has room, but his spot on the priority list is not as urgent as some others.
Doubs is a different story. He was one of New England’s major offseason additions, landing a four-year, $68 million deal in free agency.
After a rough opener that included drops, he settled in and became a real part of the offense. Then came Week 6 against the New York Jets, when he hauled in a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter, got loose, and then hurt his shoulder on the play as he went to the ground.
That injury sent him to IR after the game. He can return after the Patriots’ Week 11 bye, and he should be a big help to a wide receiver room that has been hit hard all year.
But the top spot belongs to Vera-Tucker. Offensive guard has been the most battered position group on the roster, with Onwenu likely done for the season, Van Roten still dealing with injury, Ben Brown fighting through multiple knee issues and Walter Rouse in concussion protocol.
Vera-Tucker, who has dealt with injuries often during his career, suffered his own in the Week 6 win over the Jets and was placed on IR before the Week 7 game in Chicago. He’s eligible to return after the Week 11 bye, and with the guard group so depleted, he should be the first one brought back when healthy.
He has also been seen in the locker room at times since getting hurt.
The Patriots are running short on IR return options, and the next few weeks will force them to decide which players can actually change the shape of the roster when they come back.
In Other News...
Lions Munich Game Just Got A Halftime Twist Fans Will Notice
The Patriots trip to Munich already carried plenty of intrigue, and now the NFL has added a halftime act that should fit the setting. Cage The Elephant will perform during the International Series game between New England and Detroit, bringing an American rock presence to a stage the league has been using to lean into local flavor and big-event atmosphere.
The bands selection also gives the matchup a little extra texture for fans following along from afar. Cage The Elephant has built a sizable catalog with six albums and two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and the league pointed to the groups ties to Germany and its rock tradition in announcing the show. For a game that already stands out on the schedule, the halftime break just became part of the draw too. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Raised The Stakes For Patriots In Munich
The Patriots trip to Munich already carried some extra weight, and Dan Campbell just added a little more to it. With New England set to face Detroit in Week 10, the Lions coach made it clear his team is treating the overseas matchup like a serious business trip, stressing their readiness and the plan they want to execute on Sunday.
For the Patriots, the timing is tricky. They head into Germany dealing with some missing pieces and trying to bounce back from a loss to the Packers, knowing another slip would mean a second straight defeat. Against a Detroit team that sounds intent on making the most of the moment, New England will need a cleaner performance to keep the week from turning into a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Have A.J. Brown Concern They Cant Ignore This Week
A.J. Browns Week 10 status is one of the bigger receiver storylines around the league, and it matters for the Patriots because it could shape how New England has to approach a matchup built around one of the NFLs most dangerous pass catchers. With Mike Evans already ruled out and several other top wideouts dealing with their own injury tags, Brown sits in a crowded group of notable names whose availability could swing game plans and coverage decisions.
For New England, the concern is simple: if Brown is active, the Patriots have to prepare for a player who changes the way defenses can line up and rotate help. He is listed as questionable along with Garrett Wilson and Amon-Ra St. Brown, while other receivers including Tank Dell, Jakobi Meyers, Rashee Rice, Deebo Samuel and George Pickens were cleared, leaving Browns status as the one to watch as the week moves on. [Read more 🡒]