The Patriots’ first foray into a world without Tom Brady was the least commemorative, but the major reinforcements are on the way in 2021.
New England will welcome back three key players who have left the 2020 season due to the COVID 19 pandemic – linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon – reports the NFL Network Insider, Ian Rapoport, informed sources about the situation. Everyone is physically in a good place, Rapoport added.
There is no prospect of the Patriots missing all three of the above players.
Without them, the Patriots finished 27th in yards per game and points scored per game, and 15th in yards allowed per game in 2020. The only encouraging points were the points allowed per game, in which the Patriots finished seventh in the league and raced meters per game, a statistic that is hampered by fullback Cam Newton’s ability to pick up yards on the ground.
New England played the 2020 season without its defensive leader in Hightower and a key full-back in Chung, and missed its starting line-up in Cannon. While the Patriots have yet to figure out what they are going to do at quarterback, they will at least be stronger at other key positions as they try to bounce back from a disappointing 7-9 finish in 2020.
New England led the NFL with eight opt-outs ahead of the 2020 season.