The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride reports that Dion Lewis did tear his ACL and is done for the 2015 season. Lewis was like the new awesome toy you get on Christmas morning, only to have it break before the end of the day.
First, you have to feel horrible for Lewis, who’s been battling injuries constantly in the NFL. He finally just got healthy enough to show what a thrilling player he was and down he goes again with the dreaded ACL tear.
Lewis truly made the Patriots offense almost unfair and his absence leaves a huge hole. The Pats were leaning on him more than any running back they’ve had in a long time and now the passing down role once again needs to be filled.
Unfortunately I kept worrying we were on borrowed time with Lewis considering how much he was getting the ball and how many tackles he was taking. The biggest bummer is just how much excitement Lewis brought to an offense that already had it’s fair share of playmakers.
At least once a game Lewis made something out of nothing or made a play that made you stand up out of your seat. Players that can do those things are rare and that element of the Patriots offense is now gone.
The page turns to James White now who has seven catches this season. He’s got quickness and talent, but just not the kind of special quickness and talent that Lewis had.
White didn’t get the ball much against the Jets but made me feel better about him in those limited touches than I had before.
The Pats could also explore bringing back Travaris Cadet, who did have over 70 catches last season with the Saints yet remains a free agent despite taking a number of visits around the league since being cut by the Pats.
The likely solution will be more of a combination of White and someone like Cadet to replace what Lewis did so well. But there’s no question it’s vital that the Patriots find a way to get production out of this role in the offense because it’s a big piece.
Neither White nor Cadet are going to step in and do what Lewis was doing right out of the gate, but White certainly has the potential to shore things up well enough to keep this offense functioning at a high level. Sometimes players just need an extended chance to show what they can do, and now will be James White’s chance to put together 11 games to help get the Pats a Super Bowl title.
Lewis is looking at a significant recovery but all things considered, he should likely be back and ready to go for training camp. It will truly be tragic if he can’t regain the magic he flashed this season in his first real opportunity to showcase his talent, but with a new deal that keeps him in New England through 2017, he’ll definitely get the chance and will be one of the great unknowns in the Pats’ offense.
