McDaniels has more on his plate
Pats OC takes on extra work with Fisch gone
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says he’ll sleep when the season’s over.
In the meantime, the loss of quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch, recently hired as the next head coach at the University of Arizona, has slid more onto McDaniels’ plate; forcing him to trade Zzzs for Xs and Os in the coming days as the Pats prepare to finish their season. But one thing McDaniels won’t be losing sleep over is his starting quarterback.
After weeks of head coach Bill Belichick publicly confirming Cam Newton as the team’s starter, McDaniels deferred to Belichick when asked Saturday if he’d like to play Newton’s backup, Jarrett Stidham. This week, Belichick said “we’ll see” when asked if Stidham could see more snaps Monday night against Buffalo.
“That’s coach (Belichick)’s decision, and I honor whatever he makes in terms of those choices,” McDaniels said. “We work as hard as we can to get everybody ready to go. I’ve seen plenty of Jarrett in practice. I see him every day. I’ve seen him for two years. I’m confident that I understand where Jarrett is at in his development.
“But I also know that our job is to try to go out there and win two football games that we have left. So that starts with Buffalo Monday night. Cam’s done a great job of preparing this week. Those choices are Bill’s. Whatever he chooses, that’s what we’re going to do, and I feel confident going in with the plan that we have right now.”
In four career appearances, Stidham has completed 20 of 37 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Last week in Miami, Newton went 17-of-27 for 209 yards, plus 38 yards rushing and one fumble.
Edelman unlikely to play Monday
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was designated to return off injured reserve last week.
This week, there has been no evidence his return will be imminent.
Edelman missed the start of practice Saturday, his second straight absence, per the media pool report. The Pats held their final practice before Monday night’s home game against the Bills in the early afternoon. Tight end Jordan Thomas, defensive tackle Carl Davis (concussion) and defensive tackle Isaiah Mack (COVID-19 reserve list) were also absent.
Thomas has been ruled out for non-injury related reasons.
Edelman, 34, has been recovering from a mid- October knee surgery that addressed a chronic injury. If he misses Monday’s game as expected, his last chance to play this season will be in the Patriots’ regular-season finale, a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Jets on Jan. 3.
Pats sign K to practice squad
The Patriots signed freeagent kicker Roberto Aguayo to their practice squad Saturday, according to a report from ESPN’s Field Yates.
Aguayo, 26, had been out of football since 2018. A former second-round pick of the Buccaneers, he busted out of the league after a disastrous rookie season in 2016, which preceded short stints with the Bears, Panthers and Chargers. As a rookie, Aguayo made 22 of 31 field goals and missed more than half his attempts beyond 40 yards.
He hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since. In college, Aguayo starred at Florida State, where he set a college football record by making all 198 of his extra points.
Aguayo joins fifth-round rookie Justin Rohrwasser on the practice squad. Rohrwasser has disappointed since becoming the first kicker selected in last April’s draft. He lost the starting job this summer to Nick Folk, who signed late in training camp. Aguayo’s addition could indicate Rohrwasser’s future with the team is in danger.
Meanwhile, Folk has enjoyed a career year.
Since September, the 13year veteran has drilled two game-winning kicks of at least 50-plus yards and hasn’t missed a field goal.
On the season, Folk is 25-of27 with a long of 51 yards. He is set to be a free agent this offseason.