The New England Patriots sorely missed linebacker Robert Spillane during last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, and his outlook remains unclear heading toward Week 16.
On Wednesday, before the team headed out to its first practice of the week, Spillane was spotted in the locker room wearing a walking boot on his ailing left foot. He subsequently did not join the rest of his teammates on the fields behind Gillette Stadium for the first practice of the week.
Given that the Patriots will be going up against
one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL on Sunday — the Baltimore Ravens are the current league leaders in yards per carry — Spillane’s status will be worth watching closely over the coming days. Without him in the lineup, the Bills were able to gash New England’s defense to the tune of 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Spillane, 30, originally joined the team via a three-year, $33 million free agency deal in March. Quickly emerging as a core piece on defense both due to his three-down potential and leadership skills, he entered the season as New England’s No. 1 linebacker. As such, he played 95.4% of snaps over the first 13 games of the season and registered a team-leading 97 tackles as well as two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack.
However, Spillane suffered a foot injury leading up to the Bills game. While originally labeled questionable for the AFC East showdown and later not listed among the game day inactives, he ended up watching the entire contest from the sidelines.
In his place, New England turned to Jack Gibbens and Christian Elliss to lead the way at linebacker versus Buffalo. Neither was able to make much of a positive impact against the Bills’ ground game.
