Here’s what Devin McCourty had to say about Dont’a Hightower’s season-ending injury
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The Patriots will be without Dont’a Hightower for the remainder of the season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. On Thursday, Rapoport reported that the middle linebacker successfully underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
#Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower had surgery today to repair his torn pec, source said. It went well. Should have a full recovery for 2018.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2017
Although Hightower is expected to make a full recovery for 2018, he certainly leaves a void in New England’s defense. Safety Devin McCourty discussed the impact of losing his fellow captain and what the team can do to mitigate the loss.
On how losing Hightower affects the defense: “It’s a tough loss. I mean, obviously, he’s a guy who’s been out there for a lot of years now, played multiple roles on the defense, different spots, communication, everything. He’s a huge part of what we do. We’ve been out there for a couple games without him, so we know what that’s like, but it’s always the same thing: When a guy like that goes down, a bunch of guys have to step up and kind of try to fill that role, and in this case, a bunch of different roles. It’s a tough loss for us defensively, but it’s something we’ll have to overcome.”
On how difficult Hightower’s specific position is: “Very tough. I mean, playing linebacker in this league, along with a lot of other positions, it’s tough on the body. Playing this sport is tough, but especially High – I mean, he plays different roles, he’s down in the front, he’s playing backer, he’s covering, he does a lot of different things. So, it’s a lot of stress on his body. He does a good job of trying to take care of his body, but that’s one of those things where it just happens. Like I said, tougher for him. He’s done a lot to get back and be on the field and start to feel good, and it’s obviously a big help to our defense when he’s out there and playing well. I know it’s very frustrating for him to be going through this.”
On what guys specifically need to do to step up in place of Hightower: “I mean, I don’t play linebacker.”
On whether his role changes, on or off the field: “No, not really. I mean, off the field, I always say, I don’t get too into – there’s no hoorahs. Guys need to prepare. I’m always a guy that’s in a leadership role on how we prepare as a defense, no matter if High is in or out. So, that doesn’t change. But I think for all of us, it’s just being prepared and being ready to go. It’s not just one guy or even like it’s not just Kyle Van Noy trying to fill Hightower’s. It’s all the guys stepping up and preparing and playing a little bit better.”
On how Hightower’s injury compares to that of Jerod Mayo in 2014: “I guess it might be similar. It’s always hard to judge that because the team is different. I think that was a little different because in ’13 it was different because that was the first time that I had been here that he was out for a season. That was a little different. In ’14, with Jamie [Collins] and High in there, they were two guys that had already played a lot of football. So, it was tough just to fill his leadership role, but a lot of guys had a lot of football experience, and I thought were ready to take on that role.”
“You know, E-Rob [Elandon Roberts] has been out there a good amount. I thought Dave [Harris] got a lot of playing time last week, so he’s a veteran guy, so he’s always ready to go in there. And obviously KV’s [Kyle Van Noy] been out there and has played a lot of snaps this season. Guys have been out there and ready to go. When injuries happen, it gives a lot of guys opportunity to play now. The thing that I think has been great about being in this building, a lot of guys have waited for opportunity and they work hard and they try to prepare themselves to be ready if anything happens. So, very unfortunate for High, but some guys get opportunities to step up.”
On who he sees being able to step up and make big plays in place of Hightower: “It can be anybody. I mean, Malcolm Butler made an interception in ’14, and I don’t think any of you guys in this room would have picked him to be on the field in ’14, so that can come from anybody. If you’re out there on the field, that gives you a chance to make a big play at any moment in the game.”
On how long it might take to figure out who subs in and steps up: “Guys have to be ready to go when you get in. We can’t afford for it to take a while to find out who’s going to play good football. We need to continue to get better, and that doesn’t change with anybody going out – myself, anyone. If they’re not there, someone else has to step up and play. It can’t be open tryouts each week we go out there to play a game. Defensively, that would be really bad for us.”
“I think guys have been in there, guys have been practicing all season, so I think we’re better than we were earlier in the season. High played against Kansas City and then I think he missed the next two games. I think we’re in better shape than we were then, but guys have to step up and play well right away. It can’t be when we’re way in, all the way for four or five weeks. Guys have to step up and be ready to go.”
