The initial hit didn’t look great, and evidently the medical evaluation didn’t yield any good news either. It would appear as though Patriots running back James White will be lost for the remainder of the season with a hip subluxation. White was knocked out of last weekend’s loss to the Saints and was carted back to the locker room immediately.
While New England fans held out hope that Mac Jones’ favourite check down target would be sidelined only a few weeks, Adam Schefter reported today that White is likely to be shut down for the year. Heading into Sunday’s tilt with New Orleans, White led the Patriots with 12 receptions, serving mostly as a safety valve for the Pats rookie quarterback.
In his absence, Brandon Bolden took over White’s role in the passing game taking 33 snaps and catching 4 passes. JJ Taylor was sprinkled in for 10 snaps and 2 targets, but figures to be third fiddle in the pecking order behind Bolden and Harris. Rhamondre Stevenson has been inactive since his week 1 fumble, but figures to see some action in White’s absence as well.
Harris will continue to see the lion’s share of touches in the run game, but hasn’t factored into the passing game to date. With only 5 catches on 6 targets for 16yds, expect one of the other backs in Foxborough to pick up the slack for White as opposed to Harris becoming more involved through the air.
While we wish him a speedy recovery, James White is officially droppable in redraft leagues. The Patriots host Tom Brady and the Bucs in week 4.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner