The depths of the Patriots’ cornerback group was tested in Sunday night’s 24-17 loss to the Dolphins when Marcus Jones left the game and didn’t return after suffering a shoulder injury.
Head coach Bill Belichick didn’t have an update on the second-year pro’s status as of his Monday morning appearanc on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”
“No, not yet,” Belichick said. “We’ll see how these guys are when they come in today.”
The Patriots were also without Jonathan Jones, who suffered an ankle injury in practice last week, and Jack Jones, who’s on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade filled in alongside rookie Christian Gonzalez, who has yet to miss a defensive snap in his first two NFL games.
Right guard Mike Onwenu returned from an ankle injury Sunday night that kept him out for Week 1 and most of the summer. He was replaced by rookie Atonio Mafi late in the game, and Belichick is awaiting word on how Onwenu came away from the game. The Patriots also saw left guard Cole Strange return after missing Week 1 and all of the preseason with a knee injury.
“We’ll see how everybody is today,” Belichick said in Monday morning’s video conference call with reporters. “This is a late game. We’ll see how everybody is this morning here. We anticipated playing all three players, Atonio and Cole and Mike. We’ll see how that goes. Obviously, Cole and Mike, it’s good to have them back. They’re working back into the rotation. Then Atonio’s played a lot in their absence. It’s good to get all three of them in the game.”