The New England Patriots backfield can be crowded this week.
With Damien Harris now eligible to return from the disabled reserve list, patriots can have up to five means for Sunday’s game with the Kansas City Chiefs, all of whom can make an offensive contribution.
Position coach Ivan Fears approached the factor on Tuesday morning.
“Things are fixed on their own when it comes to who can have and who can’t, or who’s betting who isn’t,” Fears said in a video conference. “So it’s a mixture of the two: you have to play, you have to do it in training, and we get the most productive out of the lot if we want to have everyone.
“At the moment, we are still waiting for the last word to know if everyone is in a position to go. Believe me, this is a smart challenge. I love him. “
Here’s what Fears said about the Patriots’ five backstrokes:
DAMIEN HARRISHarris is the Patriots’ most productive ball carrier at education camp after betting a bit as a rookie, but an expired finger injury in the summer put him in RI before Week 1.
Fears said he still didn’t know if the 2019 third-round selection will be available this week.
“I’m excited, excited to see Damien back if we can get him back,” Fears said. “I think we’re all worried about seeing what he’s doing when the time is right. Everything you’ve shown has been exceptional. He had a wonderful educational camp, so he had a little bad luck hurting a little finger before the first game.
“But yes, we’re all with pins and needles in this case. We’d like to see where he’s going to be and what he’s going to do. “
Under the new NFL regulations launched for this season, players can return from the IR after only 3 weeks, instead of the same eight as usual. Once a player returns to training, their team has 21 days to upload them to the player list. 53 players. This can be at any time, so any player positioned on IR between cut-off day and week 1 will be eligible to play this week if activated.
The Patriots are scheduled to make their first consultation of the week on Wednesday.
Harris, who only made two appearances in the trash last season, gave the impression that it was a valid risk to upgrade Sony Michel as a New England leader this summer. We’ll see if he can get that impulse back on the field.
SONY MICHEL After a mediocre start to the season, Michel had one of the games of his career with the Patriots on Sunday, with a total of 117 yards in just nine hauls in a 36-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Two of his litters spread 38 and 48 yards, surpassing his last 33-year career. They were twice in a row in two Patriot possessions.
“I saw the guy we were hoping to run,” Fears said. ” . . . Things worked out really well for him in this game. He made the right decisions, made the right readings, did each and every single thing he was doing. “I intended to do and it was very, very productive. That’s what you have to do every week, but infrequently it’s not under your control. It’s just the nature of the game. “
Michel was also more concerned than usual in the aerial game, catching two passes in two goals for 23 yards. It was only the fifth time Michel had receptions at an NFL game.
“Sony has had the ability to catch the ball,” Fears said. “The challenge was simply to take it out, especially in training, and verify it for use with what suits you best, that is, first as a runner. But the aerial game. – You’ll have to worry about the aerial game. It will be a component of your game, and we are satisfied that it is even though everything is happening, and we will try to do more. The guy’s got really smart hands. He’s a very smart athlete in the area with the ball, so let’s take advantage of that merit as we move forward here. “
Michel, who only controlled 19 yards on seven hauls in New England’s loss to Seattle in Week 2, missed the top of education camp this summer after foot surgery in the offseasic season. He wondered the fears if the third-year professional had returned at full speed after that dismissal.
“I find it quite clever, ” he answered. ” You communicate that there are no spring or preseason matches. I think he’s getting to where he needs to be. I do, however, you deserve to ask him that. It will be attractive to see what it says about it. “
J. J. La TAYLORHarris created an opportunity for Taylor, and the unre recruited rookie capitalized, performing impressively in two of the Patriots’ first three games.
On Sunday, Taylor had his biggest workload to date, either in plays (15) and bring (11, plus a reception). He finished with 43 yards on the court (3. 9 consistent with the attempt) and helped revive the stagnant New England offensive overdue. in the first trimester.
“We are very pleased with JJ’s expansion and development,” said Fears, who compared the 5-foot, 6-inch Taylor to Dion Lewis and Darren Sproles. boy, and we can’t wait to see what he does as he moves forward here. “
Will Taylor still see shots and keys once Harris is activated?Fears don’t say anything.
“Dude, it’s hard to predict, ” said the coach. ” I can’t call it that. We’re moving on to play against the guys who are in a position for this game, and we’re passing by to move in that direction. But where it happens, I don’t know, I don’t know. ‘
Taylor has also been the Patriots’ main kick-back this season, his fellow rookie Kyle Dugger has also taken on representatives in that role.
REX BURKHEADBurkhead scored the Patriots’ three offensive touchdowns against Las Vegas (two on the ground, one at the front desk) and finished 98 yards from the scrum, the second-highest overall of his tenure with the Patriots. has led all New England fullbacks in game time over the past two weeks and tied with Michel and James White in Week 1 (19).
The most important factor with Burkhead are injuries: he missed 17 games since joining the Patriots in 2017, however, he has remained healthy so far this season, fully participating in each and every workout since the start of the educational camp.
“Every day in education, the guy shows up and illustrates what it means to be a tough football player,” Fears said. “I mean, he plays punches and bruises, he’s a tough-headed rascal, he goes all the time. He’s precisely what you’re coaching for. You know he gives you every single thing he has every day, whether in education or in the game. For a guy who weighs just under 210 pounds, he plays like a big guy, and that’s special to him. “
JAMES WHITEWhite missed the last two games after his father’s tragic death, and on Tuesday morning he had still joined the team.
“I think I deserve to let you answer me how you are, ” said Fears. “All I can say is that we love them and make sure we’re there for him. We are. We’re waiting for your return, and we’ll get you out of there. Everything you need, what we’re going to check to do. Everything you need.
Several Patriots pledged Sunday’s victory to the whites.