Jonathan

Jones

Rodriguez was a game-time decision with his groin injury, and the Commanders have decided to not have the tailback go after testing the injury in pre-game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols will get the touches with Rodriguez unavailable.

A favorite of former Pats coach Bill Belichick, Jones had previously spent his entire nine-year career in New England. He was on the trade block last October but not moved. The 31-year-old had a down 2024 season, posting a 61.1 PFF coverage rating that was his worst since 2021. But Jones is versatile and experienced. He’s someone Commanders coach Dan Quinn can move around as needed.

Uche, 26, has just five sacks since what looked to be a breakout 2023 season where he had 11.5. He’s played just 35 percent of the snaps for New England this year. Jones, 31, would likely be more coveted by a team trying to patch up their secondary. Jones has started 37 games for the Patriots in the last three years.

Fellow Patriots WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder) is also questionable this week. Injuries on the defensive side of the ball piled up last week. Starting safeties Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) are likewise questionable, as are LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder) and CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder).

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.