UPDATE (10:05 p.m. ET): LeGarrette Blount won’t return to Sunday night’s contest, as the New England Patriots running back has been downgraded to out with a hip injury, per the team.
ORIGINAL STORY: The injury bug bit the New England Patriots again Sunday night.
Entering the prime-time contest against the Houston Texans with running back Dion Lewis and wide receiver Julian Edelman (among others) already on the shelf, the Patriots suffered another blow in the second quarter when starting running back LeGarrette Blount left the game with a groin injury.
Blount appeared to injure himself after a 6-yard gain. He walked with a limp to New England’s locker room, and the team announced his return as questionable.
Blount had been having a nice game before his departure, racking up 53 rushing yards on just 10 carries. The 29-year-old is the Patriots’ leading rusher this season, and his absence left Brandon Bolden and James White as the only two active running backs to fill the void.
Linebacker Jonathan Freeny also left Sunday’s game with a hand injury, and his return is questionable.
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images
