Patriots
Peppers was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury while Bourne is returning from an ACL tear he suffered last season.
The Patriots’ defense will be down another key player when they face the Dolphins on Sunday. However, their offense will welcome back a much-needed familiar face.
Safety and defensive captain Jabrill Peppers has been ruled out for the Week 5 matchup due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Saturday. On the flip side, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will be activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and will play against the Dolphins, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported.
Peppers has dealt with a couple injuries already this season, but he was rarely sidelined in the first four games. He’s played 93.7 percent of New England’s defensive snaps so far this season, recording 23 total tackles, an interception, and has allowed just 17 yards on seven targets in pass coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
Even though the Dolphins’ passing attack has been anemic with Tua Tagovaioloa out (218 passing yards over last two weeks), the Patriots can’t afford many more injuries to their defense. Fellow safety Kyle Dugger is questionable for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, but he didn’t practice at all this week, a likely sign he won’t play against the Dolphins. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley is already out for the season as well.
The Patriots are getting some additional help on defense, though. Safety Marte Mapu is being activated from the PUP list as he returns from a calf injury, the Boston Herald‘s Doug Kyed reported. The second-year player had 18 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception as a rookie in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are getting some reinforcements in the passing game ahead of Sunday’s game. Odell Beckham Jr. is reportedly being activated from their PUP list and will make his Dolphins debut against the Patriots.
Bourne’s return marks the best injury-related news the Patriots have had in a bit. The veteran wide receiver was clearly their best receiver when he was healthy last season, recording 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns before tearing his ACL against the Dolphins in Week 8.
Whether it’s the fault of their own or Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots’ receivers haven’t produced this season. New England’s wide receivers have a combined 226 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown this season.
New England didn’t provide any other status updates for Sunday’s game on Saturday. After Peppers, Bourne, and Mapu, it has nine other players listed as questionable.
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