Offensive Stars Miss Practice for New England Patriots

The New England Patriots could be without two of their most established veteran playmakers on offense for their Monday Night Football showdown with the Arizona Cardinals. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and running back Damien Harris missed practice on Thursday, casting doubt over their availability for Week 14.

Patriots Thursday injury report: https://t.co/um2D0g3sUc
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 8, 2022

Meyers suffered a concussion in the Patriots' Week 13 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Harris has been absent since suffering a thigh injury in a Week 12 33-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Starting tackles Trent Brown (illness) and Isasiah Wynn (foot) also missed practice.

At 6-6, the Patriots can't afford another middling performance like the one they put together on Thursday Night Football's ugly loss to the Bills. The team totalled a mere 242 yards and 14 first downs, with its only touchdown coming on a fluky 48-yard screen pass to defensive back Marcus Jones. Thankfully, the Cardinals don't present as significant a defensive challenge as the Bills: they rank 31st in points allowed while the Bills rank fourth.

Still, the Patriots can't afford to take anything for granted. A loss or two could eliminate them from playoff contention, and they still gave games against the Bills, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cincinnati Bengals on their schedule. If the Patriots stumble, they could find themselves missing the playoffs for the second time in three years since quarterback Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay.