Offensive line will be shorthanded
Brown ruled out with a calf injury
One week after Mac Jones took 11 hits in his pro debut, the Patriots offensive line will again be at less than full strength.
Starting right tackle Trent Brown was officially ruled out Saturday as the Pats flew to New Jersey for their 1 p.m. Sunday road game at the Jets.
Brown, who missed two practices this week with a calf injury, had been listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. The 6-foot-8, 380-pounder hurt his calf at the end of the offense’s first drive in last Sunday’s season opener against Miami and did not take another snap. He returned to the field Friday in a limited capacity.
Backup offensive tackle Yasir Durant is a prime candidate to start in Brown’s place. The second-year lineman saw 23 snaps in injury relief last Sunday. Durant replaced Justin Herron, Brown’s original replacement on the right side, in the second half. Herron was flagged once for holding and allowed two hurries in spot duty.
The Pats acquired Durant in a late August trade with the Chiefs, for whom he played right tackle and right guard. Durant discussed his ongoing transition to New England on Friday.
“It’s been a group effort. coach Carm , coach Billy , I’ve spent a lot of time in the film room with them,” he said. “Even the rest of the O-line — Trent, David (Andrews), Shaq (Mason) and those guys — I’ve been able to come to them and ask them for questions. Some stuff that I might not understand or know, they’ll break it down and explain to me.”
Left guard Michael Onwenu, who started 10 games at right tackle last season, could also start, though he said Wednesday he hasn’t taken any snaps at his old position. If the Pats move Onwenu from left guard, veteran backup Ted Karras would replace him on the interior.
The Patriots also elevated veteran Nick Folk and outside linebacker Tashawn Bower from their practice squad Saturday. Folk was elevated for the second straight week. He made all three FGs against Miami and nailed an extra point.
It’s likely the Pats will sign Folk to their active roster soon, with an open spot available and undrafted rookie Quinn Nordin on injured reserve with a hurt abdomen until at least Week 5. Bower’s addition is an effort to replenish the team’s depth on the edge, after Kyle Van Noy was ruled out with a throat injury. Bower could see early-down snaps against the Jets, considering Van Noy’s chief backups, Josh Uche and Chase Winovich, are better pass-rushers than run defenders at this point in their respective developments.
Hoyer signed to 53-man roster
With two open spots on their active roster, the Patriots filled one by signing backup quarterback Brian Hoyer off their practice squad to a one-year deal Saturday.
Hoyer was temporarily elevated from the practice squad last weekend before the team’s season opener against Miami. Rookie starter Mac Jones had been the Pats’ only quarterback on the active roster. Since resigning in May, Hoyer has been viewed as a mentor for Jones. The 35-year-old veteran leaves Garrett Gilbert as the only quarterback on the team’s practice squad.
Judon fined $10.3K
The NFL fined Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon $10,300 this week for an unnecessary roughness penalty in the team’s season-opening loss to Miami.
Judon was flagged at the end of a punt return late in the third quarter. He was caught in a scrum on the Dolphins’ sideline following the play. Judon cost the Patriots a solid return to midfield by Gunner Olszewski, but cost himself mere pocket change as the highest-paid defender in franchise history.