New England Patriots: 5 reasons Dion Lewis injury will be overcome

Nov 8, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) is tackled by Washington Redskins defensive back Tanard Jackson (36) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis has been one of the breakout stars of the 2015 regular season, but his first year in Foxboro has been cut short by an injury. Lewis went down with a non-contact knee injury in yesterday’s breeze of a win over the Washington Redskins, and the Patriots immediately ruled out the former Pitt star.

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Today, the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride reported that Lewis is indeed done for the remainder of the season, as the pass-catching specialist tore his ACL. Some held out hope that it would merely be an MCL injury or that Lewis would avoid missing the rest of the year, but it looks like the MRI has confirmed the worst for Lewis.

For as brilliant as he’s been this season, Lewis’s injury doesn’t dent the Patriots Super Bowl hopes much, if at all. Losing him will hurt the Patriots ability to take advantage of space or to generate big plays off dump-off passes, and Lewis’s pass-catching ability has made him a somewhat underrated rusher.

But here are five reasons why Lewis’s injury, while being a tough blow, is something this team can overcome with ease. They will no longer be as dangerous or versatile without a player who has unparalleled agility, but the Patriots can do it.

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