A trio of Patriots didn’t make the trip to Arizona.
Javon Baker (concussion), Caedan Wallace (ankle), and Jaquelin Roy (foot) have all been downgraded to out for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Cardinals.
Baker and Roy missed Friday’s practice on the brisk backfields at Gillette Stadium, while Wallace is still working his way back after missing more than two months, so none of their absences are terribly surprising.
Though Baker was present for the first practice of the week when the team was in shorts and shells on Monday, he was absent at New England’s second session on Wednesday and popped up on the injury report with a concussion.
The timing was unusual given the bye the week preceding it and a non-padded practice to start the week, but Jerod Mayo didn’t want to divulge when the rookie wideout sustained the head injury.
“I don’t want to get into specifics on when he got the concussion, but he’s in the protocol,” Mayo said. “I don’t know exactly what level he is, but I do know he’s still in the protocol. Just like we’ve done in the past, as soon as the NFL and those appointed doctors say he’s good, then he’ll be on the field.”
As for Wallace, the right tackle is still technically on injured reserve — the Patriots haven’t activated him yet — and returned to practice on Monday for the first time after missing 10 games with an ankle injury. There was probably some rust there as the rookie worked his way back.
“I think he needs a little bit more time,” Mayo said before Friday’s practice.
The Patriots have a handful of key defensive players that did make the trip out west but are listed as questionable.
Christian Gonzalez (shoulder), Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Christian Barmore (blood clots) were all limited at practice this week and given the questionable designation, along with offensive linemen Cole Strange (knee) and Vederian Lowe (shoulder).
Mayo said expectations for Barmore should be tempered given how much time he missed this season.
“That’s one of the frustrating things. When you have a guy and then all of a sudden, he plays his first game – which he’s been out for (almost) a year – and we expect him to return back to the form where he left off,” Mayo said. “His training camp started two weeks ago, realistically, and it’s just where we are.”
Here’s the full injury report for both the Patriots and Cardinals:
PATRIOTS
OUT
WR Javon Baker, Concussion (DNP)
DT Jaquelin Roy, Foot (DNP)
OT Caedan Wallace, Ankle (LP)
DOUBTFUL
No Players Listed.
QUESTIONABLE
DT Christian Barmore, Not Injury Related – Other (LP)
S Kyle Dugger, Ankle (LP)
CB Christian Gonzalez, Shoulder (LP)
T Vederian Lowe, Shoulder (LP)
OL Cole Strange, Knee (LP)
CARDINALS
OUT
RB Emari Demercado, Back (DNP)
P Blake Gillikin, Right Foot (DNP)
CB Elijah Jones, Ankle (LP)
DOUBTFUL
No Players Listed.
QUESTIONABLE
DL Naquan Jones, Shoulder (LP)
DL Roy Lopez, Ankle (LP)