Brandon

Spikes

Spikes has been out of the league since 2016, and he has played just 11 games since 2014. He did play for coach Matt Patricia in New England, however, so perhaps there is something to this.

Spikes was outfitted with a scout team jersey early in Thursday’s practice. Beat writer Ian Rapoport suspects we will see “a lot” of backup Dane Fletcher Monday night against the Dolphins.

It’s the same knee that was sprained in November, causing him to miss seven games. The procedure is believed to be minor in nature, so Spikes will presumably be back to full health by training camp.

“Surgery this am!!!! Y’all pray 4 me please,” was as detailed as Spikes got, however. Spikes missed seven games with a sprained MCL last season, and also dealt with a preseason ankle injury. He was a key contributor during the Patriots’ playoff run, however, and is most likely only undergoing a cleanup procedure.

The surgery was a simple scope to remove cartilage from Spikes’ knee. “It’s going good,” he said. “I’m just rehabbing, trying to get better, staying on top of it.” Spikes also disclosed that it was the first surgery of his football career. The beastly run defender will be 100 percent by training camp.

Fletcher was strong in training camp last year and, with Brandon Spikes injured, was the frontrunner to start at middle linebacker. An injury to his right thumb, however, held him under 300 snaps for the season. The 25-year-old will enter camp as Spikes’ primary backup and a special teams contributor.

It should be a big plus for New England’s run defense. A physical, downhill linebacker, Spikes is the Patriots’ starter in the middle when healthy. Jerod Mayo starts on the weak side, and Rob Ninkovich is usually the SAM.

Spikes battled a knee injury for much of the regular season, but he was unleashed in the Divisional Round, racking up six tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Backup Dane Fletcher didn’t even see the field until the second half. The Patriots’ defense is trending up heading into the AFC Championship Game.

The competition wasn’t that stiff against the Broncos’ afraid-to-throw offense, but the returns of Spikes and SS Patrick Chung have revitalized New England’s defense for the playoffs. Spikes recorded six tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery versus Denver.

Spikes was coming off a season-high 12 tackles against the Steelers before going down yesterday. His loss is a blow to the Patriots’ ninth-ranked run defense, which will now be forced to start coverage-linebacker Gary Guyton in the middle. If you’re a Spikes owner in an IDP league, however, Guyton is the player to add.