The Patriots' injury luck has officially run out. With A.J. Brown already sidelined and now tight end Eli Raridon out with a thigh injury, New England's offense suddenly looks thin heading into Week 3 against Jacksonville. This isn't just about missing two talented players—it's about whether Mike Vrabel's system can actually function when the depth chart gets tested.
On the tight end front, losing Raridon behind Hunter Henry forces the Patriots into a Cameron Latu and Tanner Arkin situation. That's not ideal. Henry is the anchor, but he's been dealt a short-handed supporting cast. Neither Latu nor Arkin has shown they can reliably step into a meaningful role when it matters. The Jaguars' defense, whatever its flaws, will see this vulnerability. Tight end is supposed to be a strength on this roster. Right now, it looks like a work-in-progress.
The defensive absences are equally concerning. Two starters out at outside linebacker is a legitimate problem against a Jacksonville offense that has to get better eventually. The Patriots have depth at linebacker—Chad Muma, Marte Mapu, Harold Landry III, Jahlani Tavai, and K'Lavon Chaisson all figure into the rotation—but losing two starters at the same position group is the kind of thing that derails game plans. Vrabel's defense was built on aggressive linebacker play. You can't get aggressive when you're shorthanded at the point of attack.
What's encouraging: the Patriots' roster has actual bodies to throw at these problems. Tanner Arkin and Cameron Latu aren't stars, but they're available. The linebacker room is genuinely deep. This is the exact scenario where depth matters, and Vrabel's roster construction gets tested in real time. Whether they pass that test Sunday is another question entirely.