Jonathan

Jones

Jones has nevertheless been hanging around the Patriots’ offseason program. It’s not expected to be a long-term issue after 30-year-old Jones missed three contests with various ailments last season.

Brown missed Week 11 because of the ankle issue but was also listed as out because of a personal issue. It’s unclear what that means, but it was removed from his Week 12 report. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and cornerback Jonathan Jones were also listed as questionable.

The veteran missed Week 11 with what was marked as “personal/ankle” suggesting that the injured ankle is only part of the reason for his absence. His presence at practice in some capacity on Wednesday is a good sign, but his status remains murky. Also limited in practice for the Patriots on Wednesday were CB Jonathan Jones (knee), CB Myles Bryant (chest), DL Christian Barmore (knee), and LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring).

The Patriots secondary has been ravaged by injury through six weeks, a troubling trend that carries forward into Week 7 with 16 players listed as questionable heading into the weekend. New England could find it difficult to slow Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and company at less than 100 percent.

Jones will miss his third straight game, leaving the Patriots secondary a little thin. LG Cole Strange (knee) was also downgraded to out for Week 4. Strange is a starter on the offensive line and the Patriots will need to fill that hole against the Cowboys in Week 4.

New England again finds themselves thin in the secondary with three of their top four corners out for Week 3. Rookies Christian Gonzalez and Amir Speed are likely to see increased roles in the absence of Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, and Marcus Jones.

The big name on the inactives list for the Patriots is cornerback Jonathan Jones, particularly considering the matchup with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and the Dolphins. That could influence Bill Belichick’s normally high man coverage rates in addition to the potential to decrease expected blitz rates against the Dolphins. Both Hill and Waddle are adept at generating yardage against zone coverages.

The Patriots opted to not franchise tag Jones at last week’s deadline but wasted little time in getting a deal done. A reliable member of the Patriots’ secondary, Jones appeared on a career-high 914 defensive snaps for the Patriots last season while totaling 69 tackles and hauling in four interceptions -- also a career-high.

Rapoport added that the Patriots would be interested in bring back Jones, 29, who last season was graded by PFF as the NFL’s 33rd best coverage cornerback. Jones in 2022 had a career-high four interceptions. The Bears, with one of the league’s worst secondaries, would be a sensible landing spot for Jones if he doesn’t return to New England.

It looks like the Patriots will enter Week 11 with their top cover guy after Jones missed Thursday’s practice with an illness. The Patriots are a top fantasy option against the woeful Zach Wilson in Week 11.