Gilmore misses practice
Knee injury has CB questionable vs. Bills
The Patriots’ injury situation may be turning from bad to worse.
A day after tweaking his knee, star cornerback Stephon Gilmore sat out practice Friday and could now miss this weekend’s game at Buffalo. Gilmore underwent an MRI on Thursday, and his injury was deemed “minor,” according to an NFL Network report. Gilmore has not missed a game due to injury in three years.
The two-time All-Pro has, however, been the subject of trade rumors for weeks now and was reportedly shopped in the offseason. Gilmore, 30, has returned to his shutdown ways after a rough start to the season. He’s allowed two catches in the Pats’ last two games, both losses, and owns one interception on the year.
“He’s a big key to what we do, someone we depend on in the secondary to go out week after week to do his job,” cornerback Jonathan Jones said Friday. “But, we have a lot of guys who are ready to play and ready to step up if he can’t go or whatever it might be. But we depend on Steph in the back end to help us.”
Earlier this week, coach Bill Belichick denied having any knowledge about reports of Gilmore’s availability. He later complimented his No. 1 cornerback’s work ethic, versatility and readiness.
“He’s always ready to go. We’ve changed up what he does based on our game plan and who we’re matched up against, the team we’re playing that particular week,” Belichick said. “But, he’s a very flexible player that understands what we’re trying to do and how it all fits together and
works hard to do his part in it.”
If Gilmore misses Sunday’s game, his absence could be compounded by a new injury to fellow cornerback J.C. Jackson. Like Gilmore, Jackson is dealing with a knee injury, which cropped up on Friday, per the team’s injury report.
Belichick: I don’t think Edelman’s season is over
As if 2020 wasn’t shocking enough, Belichick delivered a small surprise Friday morning during his press conference.
He discussed a player’s injury situation — at length.
Asked whether Julian Edelman‘s recent surgery could keep him out for the season, Belichick said he didn’t believe that will be the case, though he wasn’t certain.
“I’m not a doctor. We’ll see how it goes here,” Belichick said. “Hopefully, he’ll be back. He’s worked awfully hard, and nobody’s more competitive than Julian is, so he’ll do everything he can to be back out there.”
It’s unclear whether the team is counting on Edelman returning for a stretch run. At 2-4, the Pats are already down multiple starters heading into a pivotal game Sunday at Buffalo. If they lose to the Bills, odds are the Patriots will be headed for their first losing season in 20 years; something Edelman may or may not want to return for.
“We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully, he’ll have a good recovery and be back better than where he was before the surgery. That’s the whole point of doing the surgery — that the situation will improve,”
Belichick said. “So hopefully, it will improve.”
Harris: ‘I’m fine’
Pats running back Damien Harris was one of 11 players listed as questionable on the team’s injury report Friday. He was limited in every practice this week with an apparent ankle injury. During a video conference with reporters after Friday’s practice, Harris sounded like he could be removed all together. “I’m fine,” he said.
Does Harris expect his ankle injury to affect his availability for Sunday?
“I mean, like I said, I’m fine. I don’t even know how else to answer that question,” he said. “Like, I’m fine.”
Folk details prep for rain
Nick Folk hasn’t missed a kick in three weeks.
If he wants to further that streak, the Pats’ veteran kicker knows he’ll need to overcome both the Bills and unfavorable conditions Sunday. With rain expected to fall and winds gusting upwards of 40 mph, Folk says he’ll bring four different pairs of cleats to stay dry and prepared for his field goal opportunities.
“Just have them ready if they get too waterlogged. Anything like that you can kinda be ready to go,” he said Friday. “I’ll try to walk around the sidelines in some funny looking boots a lot of the time to kinda keep my feet dry. I’ll try to put the Gatorade towels on. I’ll do as much as I can, when needs to be, to kinda keep dry.”
According to oddsmakers, Folk could play a deciding role in Buffalo. The Bills were slated as 4-point home favorites on Friday night in one of the weekend’s closest projected contests.