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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - A number of Patriots starters sat out last night’s preseason finale as presumably healthy scratches - quarterback Tom Brady, defensive lineman Ty Warren, wide receiver Reche Caldwell.
One player supposedly on that list was rookie running back Laurence Maroney. But it was learned last night that Maroney’s reasons for missing the game were anything but benign - he’s injured.
The rookie running back and vital piece of the offense has a knee injury and didn’t make the trip to the Meadowlands, staying behind in Foxboro
It is believed that Maroney was hurt early in last Saturday’s victory over the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium. He carried on three straight plays in the first quarter, losing 2 yards off left tackle on his final run. He didn’t appear the rest of the game and then didn’t practice all week.
The Patriots aren’t sure of the severity of the injury and it’s unknown if his status will be affected for the opener next weekend against Buffalo.
If Maroney misses any length of time, it would be a blow to the offense. With No. 1 wide receiver Deion Branch holding out and lead running back Corey Dillon appearing sluggish for much of the preseason, Maroney was being counted on to inject explosiveness into the attack.
He has averaged more than 6 yards a carry in the preseason and took his one kickoff 36 yards before fumbling. One of the reasons the Patriots have moved the ball so effortlessly this preseason has been the running of Maroney, who showed an added dimension last week by knifing through traffic for a 5-yard touchdown run.
Maroney, the 21st overall pick out of the University of Minnesota, was extremely durable in college, rushing for more than 1,100 yards in each of his three seasons and appearing in 36 games total.
He was expected to carry a significant load this season, particularly if the injury problems that bit Dillon last year reappeared.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked earlier last week how he envisioned Dillon and Maroney splitting carries.
“We’ll just see how it works out,” Belichick said. “It might change from week to week. I think all of our backs have shown some skill and some ability to make plays. How all of that works out, we’ll just have to see.”
Dillon declined comment last night. Belichick, when asked why Brady didn’t attend the game, said he wasn’t going to run down the inactives.
“The players that were here tonight played and the ones that weren’t didn’t,” Belichick said. “We’re not going to do a player-by-player rundown.”
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It is believed that Maroney was hurt early in last Saturday’s victory over the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium. He carried on three straight plays in the first quarter, losing 2 yards off left tackle on his final run. He didn’t appear the rest of the game and then didn’t practice all week.
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