The NFL has released the Saturday injury report, and it includes some notable names – and not just with the Monday night teams. Keenan Allen and Sammy Watkins, most notably, have revised listings.
Allen, who’s turned into 2019 Michael Thomas, has been downgraded to questionable. He’s sick, apparently. This one is problematic in that he’s picking up this illness late in the week, and with a late start. Some chance that he’s either held out or isn’t as effective as usual. My leaning would be to go ahead and use him, but those with Allen might want to take some steps to build in a backup plan – perhaps have another receiver in place in the event he’s scratched.
Watkins (hamstring) has been downgraded to out. This is what I was expecting might happen. With Kansas City having a bye next week, the safe route all along was to give him another week off, reducing the potential of a setback.
Calvin Ridley (foot) is similar to Watkins. They've got him listed as questionable, but I don't expect he'll play. He didn't practice all week. But Ridley is still questionable, so he'll need to be looked into on Sunday morning.
Matthew Stafford was on the COVID-reserve list. He’s been cleared.
For the Monday night game, the Jets apparently will be going without Sam Darnold (shoulder). He’s doubtful. Probably a slightly downgrade to Joe Flacco. When Flacco started two games earlier this year, the team scored 10 and 0 points in losses to the Cardinals and Dolphins. Flacco threw for 195 and 186 yards in those games, which is slightly more than what Darnold is averaging this year.
Jamison Crowder (groin) is questionable for this game, which is what has been expected all along. If you want or need to use Crowder, one option is to pick up Braxton Berrios. If Crowder is inactive, Berrios should fill in and do a decent impersonation. When Flacco started the two games earlier in the year, Crowder played and did his usual stuff, catching 15 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.
Sam Ficken is doubtful, so it should be Sergio Castillo kicking for the Jets.
The Patriots have a handful of notable injuries. They’ve ruled out N’Keal Harry (concussion), as expected. They’re also calling Damien Harris (ankle) and Nick Folk (back) questionable, and I think both guys deserve a little discussion.
I’m thinking there are many out there who have picked up Folk as a streaming option at kicker. With the Jets being the league’s worst team, that makes sense. And he’ll probably play. But now there’s that extra little worry create that perhaps the Patriots hold him out, plugging in rookie Justin Rohrwasser off the practice squad.
Harris has been a limited participant in practice the last three days. I expect he’ll start and do his usual stuff, being their main running back. But the Patriots have designated Sony Michel to return from injured reserve. Michel hasn’t been activated yet, but he potentially could be activated before this game on Monday, then eating some into Harris’ workload. As with Folk, it’s a worrying obstacle that’s been added into the decision making.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
OUT WR N'Keal Harry (concussion), RB J.J. Taylor (illness)
QUESTIONABLE LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (groin), LB Shilique Calhoun (knee), DT Carl Davis (concussion), S Cody Davis (calf), S Kyle Dugger (ankle), K Nick Folk (back), CB Stephon Gilmore (knee), DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow and knee), RB Damien Harris (ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (hamstring), CB J.C. Jackson (knee), TE Dalton Keene (knee), G Shaquille Mason (calf), DE John Simon (elbow), T Joe Thuney (ankle), DE Deatrich Wise (knee, hand), T Isaiah Wynn (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DT Carl Davis (concussion), CB Stephon Gilmore (knee), DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow and knee), WR N'Keal Harry (concussion), RB J.J. Taylor (illness)
Friday: WR N'Keal Harry (concussion), RB J.J. Taylor (illness), T Isaiah Wynn (ankle)
Saturday: K Nick Folk (back), WR N'Keal Harry (concussion), RB J.J. Taylor (illness), T Isaiah Wynn (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (groin), LB Shilique Calhoun (knee), S Kyle Dugger (ankle), RB Damien Harris (ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (hamstring), CB J.C. Jackson (knee), TE Dalton Keene (knee), G Shaquille Mason (calf), DE John Simon (elbow), T Joe Thuney (ankle), DE Deatrich Wise (knee, hand), T Isaiah Wynn (ankle)
Friday: LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (groin), LB Shilique Calhoun (knee), DT Carl Davis (concussion), S Kyle Dugger (ankle), CB Stephon Gilmore (knee), DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow and knee), RB Damien Harris (ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (hamstring), CB J.C. Jackson (knee), TE Dalton Keene (knee), G Shaquille Mason (calf), DE John Simon (elbow), T Joe Thuney (ankle), DE Deatrich Wise (knee, hand)
Saturday: LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (groin), LB Shilique Calhoun (knee), DT Carl Davis (concussion), S Cody Davis (calf), S Kyle Dugger (ankle), CB Stephon Gilmore (knee), DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow and knee), RB Damien Harris (ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (hamstring), CB J.C. Jackson (knee), TE Dalton Keene (knee), G Shaquille Mason (calf), DE John Simon (elbow), T Joe Thuney (ankle), DE Deatrich Wise (knee, hand)
NEW YORK JETS
OUT LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), TE Trevon Wesco (ankle)
DOUBTFUL QB Sam Darnold (right shoulder), K Sam Ficken (right groin), WR Vyncint Smith (groin), DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE G Josh Andrews (shoulder), WR Jamison Crowder (groin), DE John Franklin (knee), C Connor McGovern (knee), DT Nathan Shepherd (back)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), WR Jamison Crowder (groin), QB Sam Darnold (right shoulder), DT Nathan Shepherd (back), DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring)
Friday: LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), RB Frank Gore (not injury related, hand), WR Vyncint Smith (groin), TE Trevon Wesco (ankle), DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring)
Saturday: LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), QB Sam Darnold (right shoulder), K Sam Ficken (right groin), WR Vyncint Smith (groin), TE Trevon Wesco (ankle), DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: G Josh Andrews (shoulder), K Sam Ficken (right groin), DE John Franklin (knee), LB Jordan Jenkins (rib, shoulder), C Connor McGovern (knee), WR Breshad Perriman (concussion), WR Vyncint Smith (groin), TE Trevon Wesco (ankle)
Friday: G Josh Andrews (shoulder), WR Jamison Crowder (groin), QB Sam Darnold (right shoulder), K Sam Ficken (right groin), DE John Franklin (knee), C Connor McGovern (knee), DT Nathan Shepherd (back)
Saturday: G Josh Andrews (shoulder), WR Jamison Crowder (groin), DE John Franklin (knee), C Connor McGovern (knee), DT Nathan Shepherd (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: T Mekhi Becton (ankle), RB Frank Gore (hand)
Friday: T Mekhi Becton (ankle), LB Jordan Jenkins (rib, shoulder), WR Breshad Perriman (concussion)
Saturday: T Mekhi Becton (ankle), RB Frank Gore (hand, not injury related), LB Jordan Jenkins (rib, shoulder), WR Breshad Perriman (concussion)