The New England Patriots are unbeaten on the season and the only thing potentially capable of ending that streak could be injuries as no team has yet to really challenge the defending Super Bowl champs. The issue for the Patriots is that injuries are starting to become a serious factor for the team as they will not look to replace Dion Lewis who is out for the season.
Lewis' breakout year is officially over as the Boston Globe confirmed the running back tore his ACL during Sunday's win over the Washington Redskins. The running back was a big spark to the offense this season as he signed a two-year contract extension while putting up 234 rushing yards along with 388 receiving yards. His presence on the field will be hard to fill as the Patriots will look into the roster before looking for outside help.
LeGarrette Blount will now take over the role as the workhorse running back, but he will need help. Lewis was the dynamic substitute to the downfield rusher and the Patriots might not have the right talent on the roster to fill that need. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, James White and Brandon Bolden are the next men up to fill Lewis' role. Both White and Bolden have seen minimal playing time this season. White is a shifty back capable of handling passing downs while Bolden has more experience along with an 18-yard touchdown catch on Sunday.
Could the Patriots look for help on the free agent market? There is talent available for the Patriots to look at as a few big names sit waiting to be picked up. Ray Rice aside, Montee Ball is certainly an option. After getting released from the Denver Broncos, Ball has gotten a few looks, most recently with the Chicago Bears, but has yet to sign a contract. The former top draft pick would be a healthy body to at least add into rotation. Terrance West is also available after getting released from the Tennessee Titans. He had a strong rookie season with the Cleveland Browns before getting released for maturity issues.
Right now, the Patriots are proving they can get by without having a body or two. They started the season without Blount and Brandon LaFell and managed to handle the storm. The loss of Lewis is huge, but not threatening to the overall outlook of the season. However, adding another body to the roster at least gives the Patriots insurance should another issue come about.
