The New England Patriots will have a clean bill of health on Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, as safety Kyle Dugger is the only player on the injury report, despite logging back-to-back limited practices this week.
Dugger’s role has been heavily reduced this year, but it was he who the team needed to step up and start over the last two weeks when the Patriots lost both of their starting safeties. Despite one play in New Orleans during Week 6, Dugger has played well since.
Staying with the safeties, New England will have their starting pair on the field together for the first time in three weeks with Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson. The Patriots will also have special teams ace Brendan Schooler, reserve defensive back Dell Pettus, and practice squad call-up Richie Grant for the game.
Patriots Have Clean Injury Report for Week 8 Against the Browns
Other essential players who made an appearance on the injury report this week with limited practices but were also full participants on Friday are Stefon Diggs (chest), Harold Landry (ankle), Elijah Ponder (knee), and Khyiris Tonga (knee). At the same time, both Christian Barmore and Milton Williams had non-injury-related tags to start the week.
Although it’s the 2-5 Browns coming to town with a rookie quarterback, this is not a game to take lightly, as Cleveland has the top defense in the NFL this season, and it will be the best defense the Patriots have played against so far this season.
Even though second-year quarterback Drake Maye is doing a great job of controlling the offense, New England is still searching for a consistent run game in their offense (103.4 yards per game -- 20th in the NFL). It’s going to be challenging to find it against the Browns with Myles Garrett leading the way for Cleveland’s defense.
The same can be said for the Browns going up against the Patriots’ top-ranked run defense, which hasn’t allowed a running back to rush for 50 yards against them this season. It’ll be a tough task to stop rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who’s the engine of Cleveland’s offense.
Where the Browns might be able to find success against the Patriots is through their top targets in the passing game with tight ends David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr. as they lead Cleveland in receiving, and New England gives up the eighth-most yards to tight ends this season at 62.1 yards per game, according to Pro Football Reference.
If the Patriots struggle in this game, it won’t be because of injuries. It will because of their inability to slow down the Browns' tight ends or not being able to run the ball against Cleveland.
Finally, one last note to remember for Sunday's game. The Browns haven’t won a game in Foxborough since 1992 and they haven’t defeated the Patriots since 2010. Ironically enough, Bill Belichick was the head coach of both of those teams.