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Patriots Injury Report: Gronk Out, Amendola and Linebackers Questionable

By Dan Schmelzer

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The New England Patriots injury report has been released, giving us a better idea of who could play against the Philadelphia Eagles this week.

Injuries continue to be a major issue for the New England Patriots, with primary players featured on the team’s injury report. Their top three targets in the passing game are dealing with injuries, while arguably their two best defensive players could continue to miss time.

Julian Edelman is likely to miss the rest of the regular season with a broken foot, while Rob Gronkowski is probably going to miss a couple of weeks to deal with his injured knee.

Linebacker Jamie Collins has missed the last three games with an illness, while fellow-linebacker Dont’a Hightower is dealing with a knee injury suffered last week. WR Danny Amendola missed last week with his own knee injury. Amendola, Collins and Hightower are all important parts of what the Patriots are trying to do. It was certainly a good sign that they were all spotted at practice throughout the week.

The Patriots are slowly getting healthier, and this all may work for the best by having a full squad when it matters most, but it is certainly frustrating to see so many important guys dealing with injuries. Without further ado, here is the full injury report for the Patriots leading up to their match-up with the Philadelphia Eagles:

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All things considered, not too bad. We knew Gronkowski was going to sit out, so there is not a surprise there. You always expect the probable guys to suit up. That being said, Scott Chandler being randomly thrown on the injury report on Friday certainly raises some eyebrows. He has become extremely important to the offense without Gronkowski playing.

Obviously, the questionable guys are tough to predict. It is certainly a strong sign that most of them were at least limited participants in practice throughout the week. Justin Coleman and Dominique Easley both missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, before suiting up on a limited basis on Friday. The questionable tag gives them a chance, but I would be surprised to see either player on the field Sunday.

Tight end Mike Williams and safety Patrick Chung, practiced all week, but are listed as questionable. It is hard to say without much information, but I imagine that at least Chung will suit up for Sunday. Williams also probably has a strong chance to return after missing one game.

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Collins appears ready to go, despite the questionable tag. I fully expect he will be on the field against the Eagles. With his return to the defense, I imagine the Patriots will choose to give Hightower a week to rest his knee. I could see him getting out there, but I expect them to play it cautiously.

Amendola is another tough one. He has missed a game and a half after suffering his knee injury, but has been practicing for over a full week. The Patriots’ offense could certainly use Amendola on the field, but they could probably get by without him against the lowly Eagles.

If I had to choose, I think Amendola will play after proving his health on the field before the game. However, I would not be surprised to see them give him another week of rest. Amendola is a true game-time decision.

There is much less intrigue on the Eagles’ side of the report. Ryan Mathews has been ruled out, while little used DE Cedric Thornton is listed as questionable. Eagles left tackle Jason Peters is also listed as questionable with an injured back and ankle, but was a full participant in practice all week. Expect Peters to play.

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Everyone else on the Eagles’ injury report were listed as probable and are expected to play. Most notably, quarterback Sam Bradford who will return from an injured left shoulder to play the Patriots this week.

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