The New England Patriots have announced a significant injury update ahead of their Week 1 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. Safety Jabrill Peppers has been listed as questionable due to a hip injury, as reported by Ian Rapoport on X (formerly Twitter). Peppers, who was expected to be a captain for the game, may now miss the Patriots’ crucial season opener.
Peppers signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension in the offseason and has been a reliable presence in New England’s defense. He played in all 17 games in 2022 and 15 games in 2023 after recovering from a torn ACL that ended his final season with the New York Giants in 2021. While he is expected to play an important role for the Patriots this year, his debut might be delayed as he continues to recover.
With Peppers potentially sidelined, the Patriots will look to Kyle Duggar and Jaylinn Hawkins to step up in the secondary. Dell Pettus is listed as Peppers’ backup, but it’s likely that defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington and head coach Jerod Mayo will shift Hawkins into Peppers’ spot alongside Duggar in their 3-4 defensive scheme.
The Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, present a tough challenge for the Patriots’ defense. Burrow is expected to have his top receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, available, despite Higgins dealing with a hamstring injury. The Bengals’ high-powered passing attack could test New England’s secondary, especially with Peppers’ potential absence.
On offense, the Patriots will rely heavily on running back Rhamondre Stevenson to control the pace of the game. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is expected to start and will need to manage the offense effectively to keep up with Cincinnati’s firepower.
Leave a Reply