Patriots Gridiron News 11/12: The James White-Dion Lewis Situation
The New England Patriots will have two good pass-catching running backs with the emergence of James White and return of Dion Lewis.
With the possible activation of running back Dion Lewis, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots will have quite the situation on their hands. The team will have two good receiving running backs now that third-year running back James White has been both productive and consistent.
Although it is not yet official that the team will activate Lewis, all indications seem to point that way. So it will be interesting to see how the team uses both players. As far as Lewis status with the team goes, Belichick said he has been progressing quite well in practice.
More from New England Patriots
- Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair
- 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game
- Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins
- New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings
- Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots
"“Yeah, he’s working hard,” Belichick said when asked about Lewis’ progress. “Yeah, he’s working hard. I think this is what he needs; to be around football. Rehabbing and running up hills and doing pushups and all that, I mean it’s great, but that’s not playing football. He’s gotten a lot of good football snaps over the last however many days it has been. Yeah, it’s good.”"
Lewis has been cleared by the medical staff but Belichick and the coaching staff will still access how he looks on the football field. But even if he is close to the player he was prior to his knee injury, he will still have to win snaps away from James White.
Belichick said he doesn’t know what Lewis will add to the offense, but he knows what White has done this season and the running back out of Wisconsin will still be listed above Lewis on the depth chart.
"“I think James White is good; is a good player,” Belichick said. “What he does is good. Could somebody do it better? I mean I don’t know. But it would take quite a bit I would say based on where he is and how consistent he’s been with what he’s done. It would take somebody playing pretty good to be better than him.”"
While the Patriots try to figure out how to split time between the two players, it could be even more interesting if they find a way to get them both on the field at the same time.
Patriots work out Jarvis Jenkins: The patriots worked out three players Friday, including former New York Jets defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins.
Jenkins was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Washington Red Skins. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound product of Clemson signed a two-year deal with the Jets this offseason, but was release earlier this month.
With open roster spots on their 53-man roster and practice squad, the Patriots also worked out tight end Kennard Backman and defensive tackle Davon Coleman.
Chris Hogan questionable: New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan was a late addition to the injury report this week. According to WEEI, Hogan missed practice Friday with a back injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s matchup against the Seahawks.
Defensive end Chris Long was also missing from practice, but his absence was said to be non-injury related. If Hogan is unable to go, expect increased playing time for Danny Amendola and rookie Malcolm Mitchell.
Next: Boston Red Sox News: New Bench Coach, Betts Had Surgery
For more news and roster updates on your favorite NFL team, keep it locked here at Chowder and Champions.