The Patriots’ schedule this season didn’t work out very nicely for gamers with younger youngsters.
With a sport in opposition to the Broncos at prime time on Christmas Eve, the Patriots might be arriving residence from Denver on Christmas morning.
Some Patriots followers will not be so secretly wishing their crew will lose out to make sure a greater draft decide, however a win will make gamers really feel just like the journey out through the vacation season was value it.
Here are 4 gamers to observe on the night time earlier than Christmas:
RB Kevin Harris
The Patriots formally signed Harris to their 53-man roster on Tuesday after putting cornerback J.C. Jackson on the non-football sickness checklist. Harris, a 2022 sixth-round select of South Carolina, had a pleasant 18-yard landing run in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs.
Expect Ezekiel Elliott to maintain carrying the load Sunday night time in opposition to the Broncos, however Harris did eat into the veteran’s touches final week as a follow squad elevation.
Harris didn’t see the sphere in Week 14’s win over the Steelers, then carried the ball 4 occasions for 25 yards with the landing in Week 15.
It’s a minimum of value seeing what Harris appears to be like like in sport motion and if the Patriots may rely on him as a backup to Rhamondre Stevenson in 2024 over the ultimate three weeks of the season.
They additionally want to determine if they need Elliott again on the crew as he will get set to hit free company.
TE Mike Gesicki
The Patriots took a flier on Gesicki in free company, and it hasn’t labored out. He’s caught simply 22 passes for 189 yards with one landing in 14 video games with seven begins.
It’s powerful to consider the Dolphins used a franchise tag on Gesicki simply final season.
But with tight finish Hunter Henry nursing a knee harm, Gesicki would possibly have to tackle a much bigger function within the passing sport. Pharaoh Brown would possible deal with most of Henry’s blocking duties, and maybe Matt Sokol may very well be elevated off the follow squad, however quarterback Bailey Zappe must throw to somebody out of the tight finish function.
LB Mack Wilson
Wilson has ranked with Anfernee Jennings as the largest shock contributors to the Patriots’ protection. He’s taking part in a hybrid function as a linebacker and edge defender and has registered sacks in consecutive weeks.
The Alabama product didn’t play a defensive snap for the Patriots after Week 13 final season, however they introduced him again as a free agent anyway. The transfer paid off, and Wilson has performed over 20 defensive snaps in three consecutive video games to complete off this yr.
Wilson is the Patriots’ fourth-highest graded defender on PFF. He has 10 whole pressures and has allowed simply eight catches on 9 targets for 58 yards. He additionally has 9 defensive stops, two move breakups and a batted move.
CB Shaun Wade
There was some readability to the scenario after the actual fact, nevertheless it was unusual to see Wade as a wholesome scratch final week and Jackson energetic however not on the sideline.
Jackson has since been positioned on the NFI checklist, and his agent informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that his shopper is coping with psychological well being points. Something will need to have occurred between 11:30 a.m., when the Patriots submitted inactives, and 1 p.m. when the sport began, with Jackson.
But now will probably be fascinating to see how the Patriots divvy up snaps between Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant, Alex Austin and Wade at cornerback.
Austin, a rookie who was taking part in simply his second sport with the Patriots in Week 15, was a shock starter. Wade has considerably extra expertise within the Patriots’ protection.
Jones will begin outdoors, and Bryant will proceed to be the Patriots’ slot cornerback. But the Patriots want to determine if Austin or Wade is the most suitable choice to tackle Broncos huge receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Marvin Mims.
Austin had some penalties in Sunday’s sport however has proven some upside as a 2023 seventh-round decide.
Wade was praised by Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino and head coach Bill Belichick earlier this season.
Source: www.bostonherald.com