Hunter Henry’s foot injury may have done more than knock the Patriots out of another game. It could have exposed a roster problem that needs a quick fix.
New England pulled out a big divisional win over the Miami Dolphins despite a sluggish start, but the night still ended with another hit to an already stretched team. Henry left with the injury, tried to work through it on the sideline, then went back to the locker room. He was able to walk on his own, but being ruled out with so much time left was a bad sign.
That’s why the Patriots should be on the phone with the Philadelphia Eagles about Dallas Goedert.
With rookie Eli Raridon possibly not ready for a major role yet, Goedert makes sense as the kind of move that can steady the position without forcing New England into a massive swing. He’s on an expiring contract, which makes him easier to fit into the Patriots’ books for the rest of the season, and he brings the kind of veteran presence this offense can use right now.
He’s not a superstar, but he is a dependable pass catcher. Last season, Goedert set a career high with 11 touchdown receptions, and that kind of production would matter for Drake Maye, especially with the Patriots’ pass-catching group already undermanned.
There’s also value in what Goedert can do in the run game and around the line of scrimmage. He can block like the best of them, and at this stage of his career he understands his role. He’d also give Raridon another veteran to learn from.
The bigger picture is simple: the roster is thin, and the injuries are piling up. New England has handled the damage well enough so far, getting back up and leaning on the next man in, but that kind of attrition can catch up to a team.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the Patriots may not need a blockbuster. They do need to keep from standing still while the injuries keep coming. Goedert should be available at a reasonable price, and he ought to be near the top of the list whether Henry’s injury turns out to be short-term or not.
In Other News...
Patriots Kicking Situation Just Got More Uncomfortable For Andy Borregales
Andy Borregales latest miss came at a time when every kick feels a little heavier. In the second quarter against the Dolphins, the Patriots rookie sent a 40-yard field goal attempt wide, adding another uneasy moment to a season that has already featured more than a few for the young kicker. Through eight games, Borregales has hit 10 of 13 attempts, a mark that leaves the Patriots with a kicking operation that has been productive enough to survive, but not steady enough to feel settled.
Mike Vrabel still voiced confidence in Borregales afterward, which matters because the Patriots are trying to manage several moving parts at once, including injury updates and possible returns elsewhere on the roster. Even so, the kicking spot remains one of the more uncomfortable questions around the team right now, and the next stretch of games will go a long way toward showing whether Borregales can quiet the noise or keep inviting it. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Survive Officiating Mess Against Miami, But NFL Still Owes Answers
The Patriots left Miami with a win, but the conversation afterward was about the officiating as much as the result. A touchdown by Kyle Williams was first ruled incomplete before Mike Vrabel won the challenge, and the sequence only added to the sense that this game was handled unevenly from the start. The league had already made a last-minute switch in the officiating assignment, a rare wrinkle that raised eyebrows before kickoff.
What has kept the issue alive is the lack of a real explanation from the NFL. The crew change was reportedly tied to poor work in another game, yet the league has not clearly addressed why that swap was made or why several of the calls in this matchup became so contentious. For New England, the points still counted and the victory still stands, but the questions around how the game was managed are not going away soon. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Defense Just Delivered The Momentum Shift Fans Needed
The Patriots needed a jolt after a sluggish start against Miami, and their defense delivered it in the second half of a 24-19 win. New England trailed at halftime, but the unit tightened up, forced multiple three-and-outs and kept pressure on the Dolphins' quarterback long enough to give the offense a chance to settle in.
Kevin Byard supplied the kind of swing play that can change the feel of a game, coming up with his first interception as a Patriot in the fourth quarter. The turnover helped turn momentum New England's way and fed into a touchdown drive, the sort of defensive spark the Patriots had been waiting for as they tried to claw back and finish the job. [Read more 🡒]