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Patriots defense takes a major hit in first injury report ahead of Ravens game
Five starters on New England's defense were missing from Wednesday's practice.
A Patriots defense already reeling after a rough outing against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday received more bad news on Wednesday.
The Patriots took to the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Wednesday with five starters missing due to a variety of ailments.
According to New England’s first injury report of the week, the Patriots practiced without linebacker Robert Spillane (foot), linebacker Christian Elliss (illness), cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), cornerback Marcus Jones (hip), and edge rusher Harold Landry (knee).
That’s not a good sight for a Patriots defense that — already playing without star defensive lineman Milton Williams — is set for another daunting task on Sunday when they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in a primetime matchup.
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New England missed Spillane’s presence last week, with the run-stuffing linebacker not playing a single snap against the Bills.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Spillane — New England’s leading tackler with 97 on the year — was spotted wearing a boot on his left foot on Wednesday.
A mobile linebacker in Ellis stands as another tough absence for New England as they try to devise a gameplan for slowing down Lamar Jackson on Sunday night. Ellis ranks second on the Patriots with 76 tackles, and has doled out some heavy hits over the last few weeks. His absence due to an illness at least raises hopes that he could be cleared to play by Sunday night.
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New England’s secondary is also in rough shape with the absences of both Jones and Davis. Jones has been one of the Patriots’ most impactful players this season, leading the team in interceptions (three) while also recording two punt-return TDs.
Davis is another starting cornerback alongside Jones and Christian Gonzalez, who ranks second on the team with nine passes defended on the year.
Landry leads New England with 8.5 sacks on the season, although the Patriots have often held him out of practices as he tries to manage a nagging injury that has hampered some of his explosiveness over the course of a long season.
Williams, meanwhile, has already been ruled out for Sunday as he recovers on injured reserve from a high ankle sprain. He could be eligible to play in Week 17 against the Jets.
The Ravens are also dealing with some bumps, bruises, and bugs this week, as Jackson (illness), Chidobe Awuzie (foot), Teddye Buchanan (knee), Roquan Smith (knee), Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) and Kyle Van Noy (quad) all missed Wednesday’s practice.
“Lamar has an illness, he was kept home with a flu deal,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson. “It’s kind of a rest thing.”
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Here’s a look at the Patriots’ injury report:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
CB Carlton Davis III – Hip
LB Christian Elliss – Illness
CB Marcus Jones – Knee
LB Harold Landry – Knee
LB Robert Spillane – Ankle
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
DT Christian Barmore – Not Injury Related
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