Predicting the Patriots PUP List

Over the next week, the Patriots will announce their Physically Unable to Perform list, a group of guys still recovering from injury/surgery who need more time to get healthy.

Anyone who opens camp on the PUP list is eligible to stay on the list when the regular season starts, costing them the first six weeks of their season. This can be a good way to create an extra roster spot, but missing more than the first two months of the season can be detrimental.

Now, with two players able to be placed on IR but brought back the same season, there’s a bit more flexibility when dealing with injuries.

The PUP list can also include players who don’t pass the conditioning test, which former PatsProp contributor Adam Magnacca tortured himself doing a few years ago.

Based on OTA and minicamp attendance, who might start training camp on the sidelines, not including any fat bodies who can’t make the run, which rarely happens now outside of free agent defensive tackles.

Patrick Chung – Chung broke his arm in the Super Bowl and the Pats were lucky this injury didn’t happen until they were already in the final game. Chung’s value to the defense can’t be overstated, nor can how impressive his durability has been since 2014. He’s missed just two games in five years back, after missing 14 in three years as a Pats starter (2010-2012). Chung was not seen at all this offseason, having two surgeries on his arm as well as another to clean up his shoulder. It was expected he’d be ready for camp, but he could still kick the first couple weeks off on PUP even if his recovery has been optimal. Letting Obi Melifonwu get some extra work with the starters could be a nice silver lining.

Patrick Chung is scheduled for surgery tomorrow on his broken forearm, per source. Then in about three weeks, he’ll have shoulder surgery to clean up an issue he played through for most of the season. Due to the shoulder recovery, he’ll likely miss all of OTAs and return in camp.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) February 6, 2019

Sony Michel – Michel was a beast down the stretch for the Pats, with 336 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the post-season. But with another knee surgery this offseason, even though deemed a minor cleanup, it doesn’t make me feel great about getting more than a handful of productive seasons from the first-round pick. Having Damien Harris as a backup is reassuring. Though he was missing from action all offseason, Michel is expected to be ready for camp but I think we can expect the Patriots to go easy on him every summer regardless.

Nick Brosette – The undrafted rookie running back wasn’t seen this offseason. Any time he misses with a loaded depth chart in front of him is a bad sign for his roster chances. Rookies, especially undrafted ones, need to be on the field as much as possible.

Demaryius Thomas – Thomas is still recovering from a torn Achilles, a significant injury for a player who will turn 32 in December. Thomas has been productive, but has admittedly never been a player I coveted. Of all the potential PUP’ers Thomas is the most questionable. There’s no doubt the Patriots could use him immediately but there’s a lot of interesting depth that could lessen that need. Of every player on the roster there might not be one with a broader range of possibilities this season than Thomas.

Isaiah Wynn – It sounds like Wynn is expected to be ready to go, a remarkable development for a player the Patriots really need to step into their starting left tackle spot. Will he immediately be the player the Pats spent a 2018 first-round pick on? It’s a lot to ask and a critical focal point for the 2019 edition of the Patriots. If Wynn’s there and ready to go right out of the gate it will be a huge initial win.

Yodny Cajuste – A third-round pick, Cajuste has the opportunity to step right into a significant role this season, something that I haven’t seen written or discussed anywhere. To open the summer on PUP would be a significant setback for the promising player who has all the traits the team wants from their tackles. Cajuste was absent all offseason recovering from quad surgery that was expected to keep him out three months. That timeframe puts him on track to be ready to go.

Nate Ebner – Ebner was seen in minicamp but was limited as he recovers from an unknown injury. Ebner started 2017 on PUP, returning mid-way through the season to his vital special teamer role which he’s held since 2012.. Each generation of the Patriots dynasty has their special teams stalwarts going back to Larry Izzo, and Ebner is currently one of those core players. Tough as nails, I’m least concerned about Ebner.

Notes – J.C. Jackson and Deatrich Wise missed time during minicamp but both appeared to be minor tweaks. Both should be ready to go, but it’s worth noting they were dealing with something in June.

The reports out there are all positive, that everyone on this list is recovering and expected to be ready. That would be a huge boost because they are a far different team if you took players like Chung, Wynn and Cajuste out of the equation early on. There is depth to get by without Michel and Thomas if they have to.