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The New England Patriots endured a brutal 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but the damage extended beyond the scoreboard. Several players left the game with injuries, and while some appear minor, others are significant concerns for a team already ravaged by health issues all season.
Injury Analysis: Week 9
S Brenden Schooler: Already dealing with a hamstring issue, Schooler played just four snaps—all in the first five minutes—before his hamstring forced him out for the remainder of the game. He did not suffer any obvious injury on his final play, a punt in the first quarter.
CB Carlton Davis III: Davis limped off after making a cut while covering Packers receiver Christian Watson in the second quarter. He was seen on one knee on the sideline before slowly heading to the medical tent. The team announced him questionable with a knee injury, but he did not return.
LG Ben Brown: Brown was spun around while pass blocking late in the second quarter and went down, requiring medical attention on the field. He walked off slowly under his own power and was listed as questionable with a knee issue, but he also did not re-enter the game.
TE Cameron Latu: Latu stayed on the ground after a kickoff return in the third quarter when he was tackled from behind while blocking for returner Corey Kiner. He eventually jogged off and returned for the next special teams play three minutes later. No injury was announced.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson caught a short pass near the sideline with under four minutes left in the third quarter and attempted to get up but hobbled and went back down. He received help from the medical staff but walked off on his own and into the medical tent. He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game with a knee injury and later departed for the locker room.
S Jaylen Reed: The Patriots' No. 3 safety took a brief trip to the blue medical tent in the third quarter but remained on the sideline and re-entered shortly after. No injury was announced.
LT Will Campbell: Early in the fourth quarter, Campbell went down after a blitzing safety Evan Williams collided with him from behind. He walked off with trainers and into the medical tent with a knee injury. The team announced him questionable, and he finished the game on the sideline.
QB Drake Maye: Maye took a hard fall on a 10-yard sack with 10 minutes remaining. He was slow to get up and was eventually pulled, but the decision was due to the score (45-21) and a desire to protect him rather than any injury from the play.
WR Kyle Williams: Williams limped after an incomplete target in the fourth quarter that was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty. He missed the next two plays but returned for a two-point conversion attempt after a Corey Kiner touchdown. The ball came his way again but was incomplete, and he was shaken up after a hard fall trying to reach for an overthrown pass. He returned for the final two snaps.
What This Means for the Patriots
As if an 18-point loss wasn't bad enough, the injury-plagued Patriots took more hits on Sunday. Not all appear major, but some certainly are. Rhamondre Stevenson is reportedly set to miss time with a knee tendon injury, and Ben Brown will not be available against the Detroit Lions in Germany on Sunday. The statuses of Carlton Davis and Brenden Schooler, who also couldn't finish the game, remain uncertain.
There was some good news: Will Campbell said after the game that he could have returned if the score hadn't been out of hand. Still, the Patriots must adapt once again.
At running back, the team could be without its top two options against the Lions. Besides Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson has missed back-to-back games due to an illness of undetermined origin. That leaves Corey Kiner, Lan Larison, and practice squad option Terrell Jennings as the only available backs in Week 10.
Along the offensive line, the turnover at guard continues. With Brown out, the team will either reinsert Walter Rouse or veteran Greg Van Roten, whose window to return from injured reserve was opened last week.
The Patriots will hold their first practice of the week on Wednesday before taking an overnight flight to Munich. They will have a light session on Thursday and a regular practice on Friday. Kickoff against the Lions is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Originally reported by yahoo.