Lewis’ uptick helps offense
Back hopes for more of same
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — The Human Joystick has earned some wear and tear.
Running back Dion Lewis was pleading for an increased workload, and his wish was granted during the past two games. Now that his involvement is trending in a favorable direction, he wants to maintain that arc.
“It feels good to go out there and be able to help my teammates,” Lewis said yesterday. “That’s what I like to do. I’m a player, so I love to compete, and I’m happy I’m given the chance.”
Lewis’ carries have increased in each game since Week 3, when he had two for 5 yards against Houston, but he was at his best during back-to-back victories against the Buccaneers and Jets, in which he had 105 combined rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. In the four previous games, he had 12 carries for 46 yards and a score.
There’s no doubt that he resembles the 2015 Lewis, who earned his nickname from LeGarrette Blount because of his array of video game moves.
And for a Patriots offense that needs to exhaust every possible avenue to limit the punishment that has been unleashed upon Tom Brady, further doses of Lewis should be in the game plan.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do in order to get to where we know we can be at,” Lewis said. “It starts with coming in every day, working hard, trying to improve all the little things. Each week, we can always improve on something, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Support for Hayward
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward’s nasty injury was a popular topic in the Patriots locker room.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has endured nine surgical procedures since 2009, can relate to major injuries better than most.
“I wish him nothing but wellness,” Gronk said. “Hopefully he heals as soon as possible. You never want to see that with a player in any sport. One of my friends showed me (a replay of the injury) last night. You get that feeling in your body like your heart just drops. I wish him well. I can’t wait to see him back. I know he’s going to bounce back, but being here in Boston, he’s going to be a hard worker.”
Gronkowski has had a couple of seasons erased by back surgeries, another by a torn ACL and a series of forearm procedures to heal a broken bone.
“Just go into rehab just like you go into anything else, dominate it,” he said of Hayward’s situation. “Come back when you feel ready, and come back when you’re 100 percent. Just like anything else. He wouldn’t be where he is now if he wasn’t a hard worker. I don’t know the guy, have never met him, but it’s not something that you want to see as an athlete happen to anyone else.”
Slot receiver Danny Amendola tore a groin muscle right off the bone in his first game with the Pats in 2013 and missed three games as a result, so he could relate to the pain.
“Never want to see a guy go down at the start of a season,” Amendola said. “I’ve been there before. I know how it feels. He’ll be back. He’ll be stronger than ever here in the next year or whenever it comes time for him to be back on the court. So I know that as a city and as a team here, we’re all happy to have him.”
It’s a timely topic for Gronkowski because the Patriots are preparing for a Super Bowl LI rematch against the Falcons. The tight end missed that game because of back surgery.
“There is definitely a big mental challenge,” Gronkowski said. “It’s not just around your teammates and all of that. It’s outside of football, too, because it takes away your whole life from going down like that. You can’t do anything. You can’t walk. You’ve got to have people do it. You get really frustrated. You just want the people you love around you to help you out and get you in the best mindset throughout the whole process.”
Injury notes
Linebacker Shea McClellin debuted at practice yesterday, his first day eligible to return to the field. McClellin suffered an undisclosed injury in the opening week of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. If activated, he can play as early as Week 10 against the Broncos.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore missed his first practice because of the concussion he apparently suffered against the Buccaneers. Linebacker Elandon Roberts’ ankle reappeared on the injury report, and he didn’t participate yesterday, though he was present for stretching and positional drills.
Wide receiver Chris Hogan (ribs) and right guard Shaq Mason (shoulder) were new additions to the injury report. Hogan took a shot to the midsection in the second quarter but missed only the subsequent play. It’s unclear when Mason was injured.