NFL: Patriots: Next Offense column injured

The New England Patriots’ offensive worries will be even greater for the time being: The Pats, who had already revealed significant offensive deficits in the past two games, will now have to do without Rex Burkhead for a long time.

The Patriots put Burkhead on Wednesday’s Injured Reserve list after the Running Back had failed to finish the Detroit Lions duel on Sunday evening. According to the team, Burkhead, who had only signed a new three-year contract for almost ten million dollars in the spring, suffered a neck injury.

Burkhead New England is missing for at least the next eight games, and the Pats’ arsenal of weapons is getting thinner and thinner. In the past two games, it has already become apparent that Defenses focus on double teams against Rob Gronkowski – and New England do not have the individual means to capitalise on them elsewhere.

Although Julian Edelman returns after week 4 and Josh Gordon, who was recently engaged, should also get a role sooner or later, the Pats are noticeably limited for the time being – and this before the duel with the still undefeated Miami Dolphins on Sunday, who could already clearly distance themselves in the New England division.

To top it all off, Burkhead wasn’t the only player the Patriots had to put on the injured reserve list: rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who made a very good impression over the first three weeks, has to watch for weeks now.