FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots made many sacrifices on their way to a Super Bowl XLIX title.
That becomes more obvious now than ever as 14 Patriots, including eight projected starters, are sitting out of mandatory minicamp with injuries, most of which were suffered last season. The Patriots’ linebacker corps took the biggest hit with starters Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo absent for the practice sessions.
With top reserve Dane Fletcher also MIA, James Morris has had to step up into a leading role despite never taking a regular season NFL snap. Morris tore his ACL during the Patriots’ final preseason game last year and had to watch from afar as his teammates made and won a Super Bowl.
Morris is back and feeling fully healthy, and now he’s earning valuable snaps that can only help his standing on the depth chart with so many veterans ailing at his position.
“It feels great,” Morris said Wednesday after minicamp. “I’m a football player, and that’s what I want to do, and anytime you get an opportunity to come out here and play football, that’s good enough for me.
“It’s just nice being on the field, period. I’m not caught up in the depth chart and who’s at what roster spot and yada, yada. When the coaches want me out there, I go out there, and when I’m out there, I’m trying to do my best.”
Morris appeared to be primed for a reserve role on the Patriots’ defense before his injury, though his journey to the NFL started shaky. Morris went undrafted after a standout career at Iowa and signed with the Patriots in May. He was cut shortly after signing when the Patriots found a blood clot in his leg. He re-signed with the team on Aug. 2 and immediately had to play from behind.
Morris didn’t want to get into the specifics of his medicals, but said he’s “fine” now.
Obviously it’s not ideal for the Patriots to be without their top four linebackers, but with a lack of ideal depth at the position, these reps are invaluable for players like Morris, Jonathan Freeny, Dekoda Watson and rookie Matthew Wells, all of whom don’t have game experience in the Patriots’ defense. Darius Fleming is the only linebacker to play in a regular season game for the Patriots last season currently practicing.
Mayo’s last two seasons have been cut short by injuries, and Hightower and Collins also missed games last year. The Patriots planned on having Brandon Spikes to serve as linebacker depth, and since that signing didn’t work out, New England will need one of its young linebackers to step up in case the injury bug bites again in 2015.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
