The New England Patriots suffered multiple injuries during their win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and as a consequence had to make several adjustments on the fly.
The most notable happened along the offensive line, where both left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson were unable to finish the game. The former went down in the third quarter with what was later diagnosed as a sprained MCL, while the latter lasted only three snaps before suffering a high ankle sprain.
With them out,
Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown were pushed into action. The former replaced Campbell for the final 28 snaps of the game, seeing his most extensive action since losing his starting job over the offseason. Brown, meanwhile, was on the field for 68 of 71 snaps (96%) — the second time he had to take over for Wilson this year after the third-round rookie already had to sit out Week 4 with another ankle ailment.
Also unable to finish Sunday’s game were defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and safety/special teamer Brenden Schooler. Tonga playing just 12 defensive snaps (18%) led to increased playing time for the likes of Cory Durden (36; 55%), Eric Gregory (18; 28%), and in particular practice squad elevation Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (20; 31%). All three set a new season high in snaps against Cincinnati.
Schooler suffering an ankle injury in the early second quarter, meanwhile, forced a shuffling of special teams personnel. Alex Austin (20; 71%), Dell Pettus (20; 71%) and Marte Mapu (17; 61%) were all part of this process.
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 26-20 win at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium.
Offense
Total snaps: 71 | Time on the field: 32:14 | *denotes starter
QB Drake Maye* (71; 100%), C Garrett Bradbury* (71; 100%), RG Mike Onwenu* (71; 100%), LG Ben Brown (68; 96%), RT Morgan Moses* (64; 90%), WR Mack Hollins* (61; 86%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (57; 80%), TE Hunter Henry* (56; 79%), RB TreVeyon Henderson* (46; 65%), LT Will Campbell* (43; 61%), TE Austin Hooper (40; 56%), WR Stefon Diggs* (34; 48%), LT/TE Vederian Lowe (30; 42%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (22; 31%), FB/TE Jack Westover (17; 24%), WR DeMario Douglas (12; 17%), RT Marcus Bryant (7; 10%), WR Kyle Williams (5; 7%), RB Terrell Jennings (3; 4%), LG Jared Wilson* (3; 4%)
Before seeing two starters depart permanently and another temporarily — right tackle Morgan Moses, who was replaced by rookie Marcus Bryant for seven snaps — they also saw three core players return from previous injuries. Rhamondre Stevenson was back from a three-game absence due to a toe injury. For the first time this season, however, he did not draw the start and ended up out-snapped and out-produced by teammate TreVeyon Henderson.
Kayshon Boutte, for comparison, was a bit more active in his return from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him for two contests. He played his usual high number of snaps as a perimeter option, and caught two passes for 15 yards while also drawing two pass interference penalties. His presence meant that third-round draft pick Kyle Williams was relegated to spot duty again.
At tight end, Austin Hooper’s concussion is a thing of the past. He played 56% of snaps, finishing with three catches for 39 yards on a day the Patriots emphasized targeting the middle of the field with their tight ends.
Defense
Total snaps: 65 | Time on the field: 25:25 | *denotes starter
LB Robert Spillane* (65; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez* (65; 100%), CB Carlton Davis III* (65; 100%), S Jaylinn Hawkins* (65; 100%), S Craig Woodson* (65; 100%), CB Marcus Jones* (63; 97%), ED Harold Landry III* (48; 74%), DT Christian Barmore* (47; 72%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson* (47; 72%), DT Cory Durden (36; 55%), LB Christian Elliss* (29; 45%), LB Jack Gibbens (21; 32%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (20; 31%), ED Elijah Ponder (20; 31%), DT Eric Gregory (18; 28%), S Dell Pettus (15; 23%), DT Khyiris Tonga* (12; 18%), ED Anfernee Jennings (10; 15%), ED Caleb Murphy (2; 3%), CB Charles Woods (2; 3%)
While the Patriots saw some turnover up front due to Milton Williams being moved to injured reserve and Khyiris Tonga playing just 12 snaps on the day, their secondary was once again a model of stability. The five starters at cornerback and safety missed just two snaps between them, both coming via slot cornerback Marcus Jones rotating out of the lineup.
At linebacker, New England also saw a return. Christian Ellis, whose recent hip injury kept him out for the last two games, was back to fill his usual starter-level role next to Robert Spillane. Nonetheless, the team also continued to give Jack Gibbens a heavy workload as an LB2-type player.
Speaking of heavy workloads, Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson remain the clear top guys on the edge, playing 74% and 72% of snaps, respectively. The former’s number is particularly remarkable given that he was listed as questionable entering the game because of a knee injury. Behind him and Chaisson, rookie free agent Elijah Ponder seems to have fully established himself as the third option now: he clearly out-snapped veteran Anfernee Jennings and recent waiver claim Caleb Murphy.
Special teams
Total snaps: 28 | Time on the field: 2:21
LB Jack Gibbens (22; 79%), CB Alex Austin (20; 71%), S Dell Pettus (20; 71%), ED Caleb Murphy (17; 61%), LB/PP Marte Mapu (17; 61%), CB Charles Woods (16; 57%), LB Christian Elliss (14; 50%), K Andy Borregales (13; 46%), RB/KR Terrell Jennings (11; 39%), DT Cory Durden (11; 39%), ED Anfernee Jennings (11; 39%), ED Elijah Ponder (11; 39%), FB Jack Westover (10; 36%), ED Bradyn Swinson (10; 36%), P/H Bryce Baringer (9; 32%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (8; 29%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (8; 29%), S Brenden Schooler (8; 29%), LS Julian Ashby (8; 29%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson (7; 25%), TE Austin Hooper (6; 21%), OT Vederian Lowe (6; 21%), OT Marcus Bryant (6; 21%), OL Mike Onwenu (6; 21%), OL Ben Brown (6; 21%), DT Christian Barmore (5; 18%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (5; 18%), WR/KR Kyle Williams (4; 14%), OT Morgan Moses(4; 14%), LB Robert Spillane (4; 14%), DT Khyiris Tonga (3; 11%), OT Will Campbell (1; 4%), TE Hunter Henry (1; 4%), S Craig Woodson (1; 4%)
The Patriots’ special teams operation saw a shakeup not just because of Brenden Schooler missing almost three full quarters of action. The unit also introduced a new primary kickoff returner, with the aforementioned Kyle Williams taking over a job most recently handled by fellow rookies Efton Chism and TreVeyon Henderson. Playing his first four snaps in that role, he ran back three kickoffs for a combined 86 yards and a solid 28.7-yard average.
As far as the composition of the special teams core is concerned, only three players — Jack Gibbens, Caleb Murphy, Marte Mapu — lined up on all four kickoff and punt return and coverage teams. Gibbens, meanwhile, was the only player to also see action as part of a fifth grouping, the field goal/extra point blocking squad.
Did not play
QB Joshua Dobbs
The Patriots needed the entirety of their roster versus the Bengals, with one exception. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs remained on the sidelines throughout the game for the 10th time this season.
Inactive
QB3 Tommy DeVito, LB Jahlani Tavai, OL Caedan Wallace, TE C.J. Dippre, WR Efton Chism III, DT Joshua Farmer
The Patriots did get several players back from injury coming off their mini-bye following their game against the New York Jets in Week 11, and as a consequence built their inactives list for Week 12 mostly out of healthy scratches. The only player listed on the injury report before the trip to Cincinnati was linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who did not join his teammates for personal reasons.
