Week 3: Patriots vs. Raiders Injury Report

The traveling freak show that is the Oakland Raiders (0-2) makes a rare stop at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (1, CBS) to face the Patriots (1-1). In their 2014 home opener, New England is by far the biggest favorite in the NFL this weekend and with good reason, as usual the past decade the Raiders are a complete disaster. Oh and that joker with the bowl cut up above is the late Al Davis' mysterious son Mark that hit the genetic lottery (well kind of) and he's now the current owner of these losers.

The injury report was released this afternoon with six Patriots listed as questionable, one Raider already out and seven others questionable. Defensive lineman Michael Buchanan (ankle), Jamie Collins (thigh), Alfonzo Dennard (shoulder), safety Don Jones (hamstring), Shane Vereen (shoulder) and center Ryan Wendell (knee) are the guys on New England who could be out for what should be the easiest win of the season. Collins, Dennard and Vereen are the most notable; the first two were out last week in Minnesota while Vereen is a new addition.

UConn safety Tyvon Branch returns to New England with Oakland as a starter but his fellow Husky alum linebacker Sio Moore (ankle) has already been ruled out. The Raiders who are most in danger of missing out on this beating are cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (knee), Maurice Jones-Drew (hand), offensive tackle Matt McCants (knee), linebacker Nick Roach (concussion), cornerback Carlos Rogers (knee), defensive lineman Antonio Smith (back) and wide receiver Rod Streater (hip). Jones-Drew, Rogers and Smith are all former stars that might be washed up (why else would they come to Oakland?).

Sunday could be the last summer like day of the year in these parts so enjoy it but check in for my update before kickoff regarding the inactives.

UPDATE 9/21: The Patriots inactives are Dennard, Jones, Wendell, DL Zach Moore, WR Aaron Dobson, OL Josh Kline and RB James White. The Raiders inactives are Chekwa, Jones-Drew, Moore, Roach, QB Matt Schaub, OL Matt McCants and OL Tony Bergstrom.

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Week 16: Patriots At Jaguars Injury Report

I'm not going to sugarcoat, this is by far the least interesting matchup of the entire 2012 regular season for the Patriots (10-4). Coming off two primetime games against some of the NFL's best teams-Houston and San Francisco-New England is a 14.5 point favorite at Jacksonville (2-12) on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) and everybody knows they are going to blow out the hapless Jaguars.

For the Pats, it's all about getting a big lead and taking the life out of Jacksonville which shouldn't be too hard at all. Today, the injury report came out with 18 Patriots and two Jaguars listed as questionable. Depending on who you believe (the Boston Globe is No. 1 in my heart), Rob Gronkowski (forearm) will be out along with Jacksonville running backs Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) and his backup Rashad Jennings (concussion).

The New England players that are questionable include Mike Rivera (ankle), Patrick Chung (shoulder), Dan Connolly (back), Alfonzo Dennard (hamstring, knee), Aaron Hernandez (ankle), Dont'a Hightower (hamstring/shoulder), Chandler Jones (ankle), Brandon Lloyd (knee), Kyle Love (knee), Logan Mankins (ankle/calf), Jerod Mayo (elbow), Nick McDonald (shoulder), Nate Solder (abdomen), Brandon Spikes (knee/ankle), Aqib Talib (hip), Sebastian Vollmer (back/knee), Wes Welker (ankle) and Tracy White (elbow).

Jacksonville safety Dwight Lowery (foot) and cornerback Aaron Ross (calf) are 50/50 to suit up for the Jags. Who could blame them from ducking this certain beating? Nobody wants to be hurt around the holidays, that is way too depressing to think about. Almost as much as playing for one of the NFL's most hopeless franchises.

This post will be updated with more information when I hear it on Saturday and Sunday. Until then, let's pretend that all the Patriots' good players will sit in the second half/third quarter. Haha a Patriots blogger/honk can dream right?

UPDATE 12/22: Gronk, Dennard and Spikes didn't make the trip to lovely Jacksonville so they are all definitely out for tomorrow's game. Additionally, wide receiver Kamar Aiken was promoted to the active roster. The Patriots only had 52 active players so they left one spot open, meaning they didn't have to do anything else.

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