Thoughts on Julian Edelman Concussion, Patriots Mid-Week Injury report

(Photo courtesy of Matt West/Boston Herald)

By Dakota Antelman

Wednesday’s rain forced the Patriots to hold their practice indoors at their domed Dana Farber Field House. But that did not dampen flames on the midseason hot stove for New England.

While the team ran through their midweek drills and press conferences, a flurry of transactions and announcements  were completed by the team.

The majority of these transactions fixated around the post-practice injury report. Among lesser stories were the listings of long snapper Danny Aiken and Cameron Flemming as being limited in practice. Among greater stories were those surrounding players like Kyle Arrington, Domonique Easley and Julian Edelman.

Arrington was listed as limited on the practice report meaning he participated in some but not all of the drills the team ran Wednesday. His presence no less, was reassuring to Patriots fans who watched him go down with a hamstring injury back on Sunday. It was made so by an MRI that Arrington reportedly underwent on Monday that showed no further injury to his hamstring.

While it remains to be seen whether or not he will practice at full participation in the coming days, his appearance at Wednesday’s practice hinted at him possibly being available for Sunday’s game with the Jets.

One player who will not be playing on Sunday though is rookie defensive tackle, Domonique Easley.

Easley has been suffering from knee pain for much of the season but that did not prevent the first round draft pick from making three starts and appearing in 11 games. He was a mobile addition to the defensive line that was appreciated by coaches of that largely big bodied unit. His 10 tackles in 11 games were among the most of Patriots DT’s while an interception in Week Four had him equal with Vince Wilfork as the only Patriot DT’s with interceptions this season.

Complications from his tearing both his ACL during college however saw the Patriots put him on injured reserve on Wednesday. The transaction officially ended what was a promising rookie season for Easley.

Needless to say, roomers of today’s Easley move have been circulating all week while the results of the Arrington MRI suggested a similar level of participation as was true today. Patriots fans could have predicted those two moves. What came as a bit of a surprise however was the sudden announcement via the practice report that Julian Edelman had been recently diagnosed with a concussion.

All that the team has divulged on the Edelman concussion matter is that said concussion limited his ability to participate in Wednesday practice. No reports have been made about when he suffered the concussion just as no report has been made regarding the severity of the concussion. More so, Edelman’s status for next Sunday’s game vs the Jets has been suddenly made unclear by this reported diagnosis.

The Patriots have made headlines this week trying to stay focused on Sunday’s game and find reason to stay invested in a matchup with New York that figures to be a blow out. They made headlines on Wednesday however when they were suddenly given reason to worry about games beyond this week following their troubling injury report. 

Very simply, any prolonged injury to their offensive anchor, Edelman, could definitely hurt the Patriot going into and in the first games of the postseason.

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Patriots inactive report out: Aaron Dobson in, Rob Nincovich long snapping in place of concussed Danny Aiken

by Dakota Antelman

The Patriots released their official inactive list to the media Sunday ahead of their game with Green Bay. The report assuredly stirred up some controversy and questions regarding the names it features.

Among those listed were predicted inactives: Cameron Fleming, Chandler Jones, Malcom Butler, James White and others. It also surprised Patriots fans by listing long snapper, Danny Aiken, as being out with a concussion.

Aiken suffered a concussion late in last week’s game with Detroit when he was hit on the top of the head on a punt play.

Rob Nincovich who was warming up as a long snapper during pregame will be filling Aiken’s role on punts and kicks vs the Packers.

Nincovich will likely not lose the game for the Patriots from the long snapping position. He actually spent time as a long snapper for the New Orleans Saints early in his career and as recently as this past preseason has occasionally sent snaps back to Patriots punters and kickers.

Needless to say though, the situation is somewhat unexpected as the Patriots only recently released long snapper Charley Hughlett. Hughlett was brought in midweek when Aiken’s concussion seemed like it would keep him out of Sunday’s game. He was then dropped Friday with coaches and management citing that Aiken would likely be well enough to participate.

Of course, that is will not be happening. This recent actions are begging the question of how and why either Hughlett was prematurely released or Aiken was falsely diagnosed.

Beyond the long snapping situation, Sunday’s roster has wide receiver Aaron Dobson playing in his first game since Week Six in Buffalo. This move comes after Dobson was named practice player of the week for the Patriots.

The Patriots take the field at 4:25 and will be looking to put aside any pregame controversy. They have their minds set on winning their eighth straight game.

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Practice squad experiments Charley Hughlett, Xavier Grimble released

November 28, 2014
by Dakota Antelman

After last week’s running back shakeups, the Patriots worked out several roster moves with their practice squad this week.

After they were signed on Wednesday, long snapper Charley Hughlett and tight end, Xavier Grimble were both suddenly dropped Friday.

Hughlett, a 24 year old had spent time with the Jaguars, Cowboys, Browns before being picked up by the Patriots mid-week. He was signed in a package deal with former Giants and 49ers tight end Xavier Grimble.

Those deals were in turn made in direct correlation with the release of linebacker Deontae Skinner and Daxton Swanson from the New England practice squad.

In their place, Hughlett and Grimble attended both Patriots practices before they were dropped Sunday.

The moves were puzzling to some who pointed towards a recent concussion suffered by starting long snapper Danny Aiken as at least the reason for Hughlett’s hiring. Aiken was hit at the line of scrimmage late in last Sunday’s game vs. Detroit and was limited in practice all week.

Though always stating that the Hughlett signing was for “precautionary reasons,” the general assumption Wednesday was that Hughlett was signed to fill in for Aiken vs. a rough and tumble Packer’s special teams unit this Sunday.

As for Xavier Grimble, his signing seemed to serve as an opportunity for the Patriots to build depth at tight end. Before the Grimble signing, New England only had three tight ends under contract, none of whom were on the practice squad. His presence served to only add an extra layer of protection should Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hohomanonui or Tim Wright go down with injuries.

Removing him from the mix however still does not do much to damage the Patriots as a team. The same can be said for Hughlett as even if Danny Aiken does not play like he should Sunday, the team could easily work past it.

Such is proven by the fact that for portions of the preseason the Patriots did not even carry a long snapper.

Furthermore, the release of Hughlett and Grimble now opens up two extra spots for players to be brought in. New England has an opening on the active roster as well. 

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