The New England Patriots have faced a significant wave of injuries through the first five weeks of the NFL season, impacting their roster and testing their depth as they prepare for their Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets. Since the season’s outset, 26 Patriots players have missed a combined 68 games, marking one of the heaviest injury tolls for the team since 2021, according to NFLVerse data.
The injuries have affected key contributors, including wide receiver A.J. Brown, who left the field with a high ankle sprain during the first week and has missed four games. Left tackle Will Campbell suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament (MCL) last week and was carted off during the game. Campbell returned to limited practice this week, but the team has not established a definitive timeline for his return. Several other players, such as Harold Landry, Bryce Baringer, Jeremiah Webb, Julian Hill, Khalil Jacobs, Marcus Bryant, and Myles Montgomery, have missed the entire season due to various injuries. Offensive lineman Mike Onwenu has not played since fracturing his right ankle in Week 2.
Additional injuries have caused intermittent absences for players including Dell Pettus, Quintayvious Hutchins, Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Brenden Schooler, Channing Canada, and Greg Van Roten. A number of veterans and role players have also accounted for missed games, contributing to the roster challenges faced by head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff.
Despite the setbacks, the Patriots have maintained a 3-2 record entering Sunday’s game. Vrabel expressed a pragmatic approach to managing injuries, emphasizing the importance of preparing all players to step into starting roles when called upon. “We try not to panic. We just try to get the next guy ready,” Vrabel said. Quarterback Drake Maye noted that many players are continuing to compete despite physical ailments.
The injury situation extends beyond New England, as league-wide player absences due to injury are the highest seen in six years. While the Patriots have been among the hardest hit, other teams have experienced even greater difficulties. The San Francisco 49ers, who remain undefeated, have lost 24 players with 93 total games missed. The Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints, both struggling early in the season, have sustained extensive injuries as well, with the Saints losing a league-high 29 players.
The Patriots’ loss of high-profile players is notable, with Brown, Davis, Barmore, and Gonzalez—four of the team’s top five highest-paid athletes—missing games. Comparable challenges have affected other clubs, such as the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers, though none have seen the Patriots’ level of disruption.
Brown, who has been relatively healthy prior to this season, acknowledged the physical toll of professional football while expressing readiness to return. “I play the game,” he said. “It comes with bumps and bruises and nobody’s 100 percent regardless of if the season just started. Some stuff you just fight through and you get through.”
As the Patriots attempt to navigate the rigors of the NFL schedule amid a spate of injuries, their ability to adapt and rely on depth remains a critical factor in their pursuit of sustained success.