Injuries are beginning to build up for the New England Patriots.
Cornerback Tarell Brown was absent from practice Friday and could have a “potentially serious foot injury,” NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported. Brown is getting a second opinion on the injury, according to Rapoport.
Brown’s 2014 season ended early with a broken foot in Week 15. He finished the season with the Oakland Raiders on injured reserve. Brown appeared to reinjure his foot this season in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. He was spotted in the locker room after the game icing the injury.
Brown is joined by Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin at cornerback on on the Patriots’ depth chart. Among the Patriots’ healthy options, only Butler and Ryan were with the team this summer in training camp.
The Patriots signed free-agent cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain, Derek Cox and Chimdi Chekwa over the offseason and all have since been cut. The Patriots also selected cornerback Darryl Roberts in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve at the end of training camp with a wrist ailment.
It seems dangerous for the Patriots to heavily rely on Coleman, an undrafted rookie, and Melvin, who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens this week, but they might not have a choice unless they can find a cornerback in a trade.
The Patriots this week worked out cornerback Bill Bentley, a third-year pro out of Louisiana-Lafayette. He has previous starting experience with the Detroit Lions.
Thumbnail photo via Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports Images
