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Week 8 Injury Report For Bears vs. Patriots

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By @edpvideo

Jerod Mayo Injured

Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

For the New England Patriots, it’s who’s not on the official injury report that really matters. In the last two weeks the Patriots have lost two key players in linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley. However, neither will be found on the injury report because both are out for the remainder of the season, and the Patriots are scrambling to find suitable replacements. The one key player on the injury report is defensive end Chandler Jones, who sustained a hip injury in the Patriots’ most recent win over the New York Jets. Jones is expected to miss a month with the injury.

The impact of the three key injuries will be felt mostly by the Patriots’ defense. In their first game without Mayo last Thursday, the Jets ran for over 200 yards. This week they add the absence of Jones to the mix. With 4.5 sacks on the year, his presence could mean less pressure on Jay Cutler, giving him more time to find his tall and talented crew of receivers. With Mayo absent from his outside linebacker spot, there may be opportunities for 6-foot-6 tight end Martellus Bennett of the Bears to exploit the middle of the Patriots’ defense. On offense, Ridley’s touches get handed off to more-than-capable Shane Vereen.

The Chicago Bears also lost a key defensive player for the year when cornerback Charles Tillman went down early in the season. But rookie Kyle Fuller, the team’s first-round pick, has stepped in and turned in a few performances that have put him on the radar for defensive rookie of the year. No Bears should be ruled out for Sunday’s game, which is good news after playing without two of their starting linebackers, Lance Briggs and Jon Bostic, the past two weeks. Both should make their return this week. It’s one of the healthier weeks for the Bears, who will need all hands on deck for another tough challenge on the road.

Paul Kakert is a Chicago Bears and NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @edpvideo, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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