2 Patriots offensive weapons reportedly out with injuries vs. Titans
The New England Patriots reportedly will be without two of their running backs when they face Tennessee in the AFC divisional playoff game Saturday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Both Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead are listed as questionable with injuries, but sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that neither is expected to play against the Titans.
Patriots’ RBs Rex Burkhead (knee) and Mike Gillislee (knee), both listed as questionable for tonight’s Divisional Playoff game against the Titans, are not expected to play, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2018
Burkhead told reporters Thursday that he was “excited” about playing against the Titans.
“After the [knee] injury, you never know what is going to happen,” Burkhead via ESPN. “So that’s always in the back of your head. But when you get good news, it helps you to look forward to these games a little better.”
Apparently, the news is not good enough for Burkhead to play.
Burkhead, whom the Pats picked up in the offseason from the Bengals, has been a nice surprise, particularly in the second half of the season. Burkhead has scored eight touchdowns this season, five on the ground and three in the air, tied for second on the team with tight end Rob Gronkowski, one behind Dion Lewis.
Burkead caught 30 passes out the backfield for 254 yards and ran for 264 yards.
Gillislee has been less of a factor the the Pats this year. He started the season strong as the team’s featured back, scoring three times in New England’s season-opening loss to Kansas City, but he gradually faded into the background behind Lewis, Burkhead and James White.
The former Buffalo Bill had 383 yards on the ground and five touchdowns on the year, but most of that production came in the first few games. In the second half of the season be barely played, with five healthy scratches in six games until he got hurt against his former team in Week 16.
The good news for the Pats is Lewis has had a great season after a slow start. In eight starts he’s gained 896 yards on the ground with 35 receptions and 214 receiving yards. He also had a team-high nine touchdowns — six on the ground, three in the air.
Dion Lewis believes he's "one of the better players" in the NFL. The Patriots running back has been absolutely right this season. https://t.co/Rt1XkdJDfq pic.twitter.com/YozT7RAU81
— NESN (@NESN) January 11, 2018
Also, running back James White, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, is expected to play Saturday night.
White, the hero of last year’s Super Bowl win over the Falcons, is the team’s leading receiver out of the backfield. He has caught 56 passes for 429 yards this year with three touchdowns and rushed for 171 yards.
So that leaves it down to Lewis, White, Bolden and some dude they found in Target.
— Chris Valday (@TheChrisPhoenix) January 13, 2018
With Lewis and White carrying the load, and Brandon Bolden available, the Pats likely won’t miss Burkhead or Gillislee against the Titans, who are 13.5-point underdogs.
New England and Tennessee face off at 8:15 Eastern time Saturday.
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