Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was listed as doubtful after missing practice all week due to a knee injury. However, this writer would be pretty surprised if Hightower sat out against the Dolphins, as he played the rest of the game against the Cardinals after suffering a leg injury.
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In his absence, the Patriots would likely turn to some form of combination of five-year veteran Jonathan Freeny, recent trade acquisition Barkevious Mingo and rookie Elandon Roberts.
Hightower will be a free agent after this season, so we have to think these injuries will play a big role in the Patriots asking for a lower price point for an extension.
Best of luck in their recoveries. He apparently hurt himself in Thursday’s practice.
Other players listed as limited participants were cornerback Malcolm Butler (ankle), tackle Marcus Cannon (knee), defensive lineman Trey Flowers (shoulder), and linebacker Shea McClellin (shoulder).
The 26-year-old team captain has appeared in all 16 games just once in his four-year National Football League career, and injuries limited him to 12 games in each of the last two seasons.
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While Gronkowski may still test his injured hamstring before the game, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will reportedly wait until Week 3 to make his 2016 regular season debut, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
