The New England Patriots can get an internal touch of four positions this week thanks to new NFL regulations governing the list of injured reserves.
Since the Patriots placed offensive side Damien Harris, open catcher Gunner Olszewski, Yodny Cajuste’s offensive takeover and Beau Allen’s defensive takeover in the week between list and Week 1 cuts, those players are eligible to return from the injured reserve this week.
Previously, only two players could return from the injured reserve team after missing 8 games. An unlimited number of players can now return to the IR after only 3 weeks. The rule is at ease due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Patriots first nominate a player to return and start training, then the Patriots would have 21 days to face the player on the 53-player list.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday. “The first step would be to train a player who is in the injured reserve and then, whether he is active or not, he will have what happened the week. Sometimes those guys, who aren’t in a position to play as soon as they start education, want a week or two more.
“If we do that, it will be based on this player’s individual scenario and how we can compare to the guy how long we have to look at him, whether it’s a week, two weeks, 3 weeks anything. The first step would be to put them into practice and this sets the clock on in the activation process. Then it becomes an evaluation that we just take day by day. “
The first of the Patriots week will take up position on Wednesday afternoon.
Allen is the most needed player on the disabled reserve list. He has been injured since this summer and has never practiced in front of journalists. The Patriots bought time until Allen temporarily lifted defensive tackles Nick Thurman and Xavier Williams back off the practice team. Patriots can temporarily remove Williams from their practice squad once they return. They are running out of transitority elevations for Thurman and are expected to be listed on his list of 53 men if they need him to play this season.
The Patriots fought to protect themselves without a great frame in the middle of his defensive as Allen, who is New England’s heaviest defender at 327 pounds, considered one of the Patriots’ most productive loose players, but has been away all season.
Harris would sign up for a suddenly crowded backfield that includes Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, JJTaylor and James White. White missed the last two games after his father’s death. Patriots will eventually have to dress Harris or Taylor on game day. Patriots can simply delay the resolution until Harris is appointed for the return, even if he is the team’s maximum full and explosive ball carrier.
Olszewski would help the patriots’ entire reception depth by joining Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd and Jakobi Meyers. The Patriots temporarily increased Isaiah Zuber from the practice team last week. Olszewski seemed the Patriots’ second-best open receiver in education camp, and can promptly give the unit a boost.
The Patriots are unlikely to turn without delay against Cajuste because the intensity of their offensive line is quite forged even despite the damaged hand of middle David Andrews. They have Justin Herron, Hjalte Froholdt and James Ferentz supporting openers Isaiah Wynn, Mike Onwenu, Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason and Jermaine Eluemunor. Korey Cunningham’s offensive take-off has been a healthy scratch for three weeks. Cajuste would probably put Cunningham on the inactive list.
Patriots have lately 52 players on their active list, meaning they have a loose place to attack a player. Patriots can open additional locations by seeking to outperform Cunningham, Ferentz, or cornerer Myles Bryant through waivers and in the practice squad.