Injury Setback or Cautious Coaching?

Brandon Bolden	RB	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Patrick Chung	S	Shoulder	Limited	Limited	DNP	OUT
Ras-I Dowling	CB	Thigh	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Steve Gregory	S	Hip	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Aaron Hernandez	TE	Ankle	Limited	DNP	DNP	OUT
Trevor Scott	DE	Hamstring	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Tracy White	LB	Foot	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Ron Brace	DT	Back	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Julian Edelman	WR	Hand	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Rob Gronkowski	TE	Hip	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Dont'a Hightower	LB	Hamstring	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Brandon Lloyd	WR	Knee	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Logan Mankins	G	Calf/Hip	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Jerod Mayo	LB	Elbow/Illness	DNP	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Nick McDonald	OL	Shoulder	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Sterling Moore	CB	Knee	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Sebastian Vollmer	OT	Back/Knee	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Wes Welker	WR	Ankle	Limited	Limited	Limited	Questionable
Kyle Love	DT	Knee	Full	Full	Full	Probable

injury report according to ESPN for Sunday's game

Devin McCourty will likely start at Safety
with Wilson, Dennard, and Arrington. 

This looks bad. And not in the usual Bill Belichick injury report type of way. Not only is Ras-I Dowling OUT for the game, he's been placed on IR. We can officially apply nicknames and legitimately question his ability to contribute in ways to live up to his high draft status. Possible nicknames: Glass-I Dowling, Ras-IR Dowling, or just simply I.R. Dowling.

Once again, both the week 1 starting Safeties, Chung and Gregory are OUT. Aaron Hernandez is taking a 2 week bye to fully rest his ankle. Trevor Scott and Tracy White are quiet, but quality contributors to the team. Obviously no one is going to rush Bolden back from a knee injury. The point is, The Patriots have key contributors and veterans missing in all 3 phases of the game. Likewise, injuries to top depth options like Sterling Moore and Nick MacDonald leave New England thinner in already light areas.

Deion Branch will likely see a rise in his reps
because no other WR is completely healthy.

Add this to the guys who have been nursing injuries for weeks, and you have 19 players on the report. That's more than a 1/3 of the team. I agree with the philosophy of resting anyone that is not 100%. The end of the season is more important than this game in London. The bye week will give everyone a chance to heal, and there's no point in travelling 6,000 miles round trip if you should be getting treatment for the injury.

Although it hurts to see Hernandez and Bolden out, Belichick is definitely playing this one smart. Wembley Stadium is an all-natural grass surface, and England's weather is tricky. Knees and ankles don't love to play on grass. I wouldn't even be surprised if either Brandon Lloyd or Wes Welker are out or limited for this one as well. They made the trip, but a reduced role might be possible if Julian Edelman can take some snaps.

There's also 3 guys that are battling multiple lingering injuries. Both of the elder statesmen of the Offensive line, Seabass and Mankins have nagging constant pain that just needs rest. Jerod Mayo's candle is burning at both ends as well as he fights off an illness and ices his elbow.

The Patriots did very well without Mankins last week
and I want him healthy in the long-term
but it would be nice to have him on the field again.

Obviously most of the guys who are Questionable will play because The Patriots have to put exactly 45 players on the gameday roster. Its also too late to make any drastic roster moves that don't involve the players that travelled with the team. I.R. Dowling's roster status might mean a promotion for a practice squad player, probably a DB that contributes on Special Teams like CB Malcolm Williams.

The Patriots just have to get through this game without sustaining any more major injuries. Winning is obviously the goal, but in fielding a team the coach is right in being cautious.