HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots speaks to the media after Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Patriots Injury Report: Two Starters Ruled Out For Season Finale
The Patriots will be down a pair of offensive starters for their final game of the 2023 season.
New England on Friday ruled out offensive tackle Trent Brown (illness) and tight end Hunter Henry (knee) for Sunday’s matchup with the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium.
Brown missed all three practices this week with what head coach Bill Belichick called “flu-like symptoms.” He’ll close out the season with back-to-back DNPs.
Henry was limited Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday’s practice. This will be his third straight missed game.
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5 things to watch when Patriots play New York Jets
FOXBOROUGH – This might be it.
On Sunday, the Patriots will take on the New York Jets in their regular-season finale. At 4-12, the Patriots have long been eliminated from the playoffs. At this point, the biggest thing to watch for is what happens after this game concludes.
With the Patriots slated to finish in last place in the AFC East for the first time since the 2000 season, it’s been speculated that this could be Bill Belichick’s final game as the head coach of the Patriots.
Belichick is scheduled to meet with owner Robert Kraft on Monday to discuss what went wrong during this past season. We may find out what Kraft plans on doing with his head coach position next week. That’ll mean either Belichick returns with some changes or the Patriots will be looking for a new head coach for the first time since the 2000 offseason.
At this point, it’s unknown what will happen, but the decision on Belichick’s future will be the top storyline of this offseason.
Here are five things to watch when the Patriots take on the New York Jets:
Draft order
Other than the head coach, the biggest storyline this weekend will be the Patriots draft position. When the regular season concludes on Sunday, the 2024 NFL Draft will have a set order. For the Patriots, that could mean picking as high as No. 2 overall or as low as No. 5.
The Patriots, Washington Commanders, and Arizona Cardinals all have 4-12 records. Washington is currently scheduled to pick second overall due to their strength of schedule (.515). The Patriots are behind them in the No. 3 spot with a .518 strength of schedule. The Cardinals are in the fourth spot (.562 strength of schedule).
If the Patriots lose on Sunday, they can’t pick lower than No. 3. If they win, they could fall to No. 5. For that to happen, the Cardinals, Commanders, and New York Giants would have to lose. The Giants are 5-11 but have the edge in strength of schedule (.511).
