Patriots right tackle Brown downgraded to out for Jets game
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Patriots will be without starting right tackle Trent Brown when they take on the Jets Sunday afternoon.
Brown’s injury status was downgraded Saturday from questionable to out. Brown missed two of the team’s three practices this past week, only participating in a limited capacity on Friday.
The 6-foot-8-inch, 380-pound Brown has been dealing with a calf injury sustained early in the season opener against the Dolphins last Sunday. Brown played just seven snaps, all on New England’s opening drive, before exiting the game.
Second-year lineman Justin Herron initially replaced Brown, before recently acquired Yasir Durant came in late in the third quarter to finish out the game. Herron played 46 snaps, while Durant played 23. Both remain possibilities to start against the Jets.
The Patriots could also shuffle things around by moving starting left guard Mike Onwenu to right tackle, a position he played much of last year, and inserting backup center Ted Karras at left guard. But Onwenu said earlier this past week he has not taken many snaps at right tackle this season, making Herron or Durant the more likely options.
Regardless of who takes the field, protecting the quarterback will remain an obvious point of emphasis. In Week 1, rookie Mac Jones was hit 11 times in 44 dropbacks, including penalties.
“It’s going to be an emphasis every week to keep your quarterback clean, especially a young guy like Mac,” Durant said Friday. “Just having his confidence high, just trying to keep him upright. Just the stuff we do every day in practice — pass pro, fundamentals, and just working on our techniques, working on our rules.”
The Patriots will also be without linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who missed all practices this past week with a throat injury. Tackle Yodny Cajuste (hamstring), linebacker Ronnie Perkins (shoulder), and tight end Jonnu Smith (hip) all questionable.
Hoyer signed: The Patriots signed quarterback Brian Hoyer to a one-year contract Saturday morning.
Hoyer, in his 13th NFL season and third stint in New England, had been a member of the practice squad.
It was only a matter of time before Hoyer earned an official spot on the 53-man roster, as Jones had been the only quarterback available. Jarrett Stidham is on the physically unable to perform list and sidelined through at least Week 6 after undergoing back surgery at the end of July.
The Patriots temporarily elevated Hoyer to the active roster ahead of the season opener, but he reverted to the practice squad Monday morning. Each team is allowed to promote two practice squad players per game, but such players can only be promoted twice per season.
Hoyer fills one of two vacant roster spots that the Patriots recently opened by placing wide receiver Malcolm Perry (foot) and kicker Quinn Nordin (abdomen) on injured reserve.
Kicker Nick Folk, currently on the practice squad, is the most likely candidate for the other spot, but the Patriots elected to temporarily elevate him to the active roster for the second straight week. Against the Dolphins, Folk converted on all of his attempts, three field goals and one extra point.
The Patriots also temporarily elevated outside linebacker Tashawn Bower off the practice squad. Bower will be looking to make his 2021 debut after appearing in seven games and logging 11 tackles last season . ... Outside linebacker Matthew Judon was fined $10,300 for unnecessary roughness late in the third quarter of the season opener. The penalty occurred when Judon was on the field as part of New England’s punt return unit.