Aaron Dobson not at practice today
New England Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson (17) evades a tackle from Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) in the second half of the game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Aaron Dobson suffered a foot sprain a couple of weeks ago against the Denver Broncos, and he was held out of last week’s narrow win over the Houston Texans due to the injury. Fellow rookie “X” receiver Kenbrell Thompkins suffered an injury against Houston, and both players are highly questionable to play this week against the Cleveland Browns. Furthering the doubt regarding the health of both players is the fact that the Patriots elected to bring back oft-injured-but-solid veteran Austin Collie.
The Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe reports that Aaron Dobson is not practicing for the Patriots today, and I think he will most likely be out against Cleveland. The Patriots like to take it easy with injured rookies, and Dobson’s foot sprain seems more severe than we initially thought. A week of rest would do him well, and the fact that the Patriots re-signed Collie indicates that Dobson will miss another week.
Thompkins’s status is also up-in-the-air, but it appears that he has been practicing. He will still likely be questionable with the hip injury he sustained against the Texans, but Thompkins also appears to have a better chance of playing on Sunday than not. Keep a close eye on Thompkins’s status, because he would be the Patriots starting “X” receiver with Dobson not expected to play.